TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS, ETC. - 225

town, Tredyffrin, Uwchlan, Pikeland, Vincent, Coventry, East Nantmeal, East Whiteland, Goshen, Westtown, and Willistown, the elections to be held at the Yellow Springs, in Pikeland. The " Pennsylvania Arms" above referred to was in what is now East Brandywine township, the Brandywines having originally formed a part of East Caln.

This division of the county does not appear to have been satisfactory, as on the 17th of September, 1786, an act of Assembly was passed reciting that the former division was found to be inconvenient, and redistricting the county in the following manner : The First District to include the townships of Goshen, East and West Bradford, Westtown, Concord, Thornbury, Birmingham, Edgemont, Easttown, Willistown, Bethel, Kennet, Pennsbury, Newlin, and East Fallowfield, the elections to be held at the new court-house in the township of Goshen. This was after or about the time the county-seat was removed to near the Turk's Head tavern, in Goshen township, and before the locality was dignified with the name of West Chester. The Second District to include the townships of Tredyffrin, East and West Whiteland, East and West Caln, East and West Nantmeal, Charlestown, Uwchlan, Pikeland, Vincent, and Coventry, the elections to be held at the Red Lion, in Uwchlan ; the third district to include the townships of Londongrove, London Britain, Londonderry, New London, New Garden, East and West Marlborough, East and West Nottingham, Oxford, West Fallowfield, and Sadsbury, the elections to be held at Chatham ; and the Fourth District comprised the townships now belonging to Delaware County, except Concord, Edgemont, Bethel, Birmingham, and Thornbury, the elections to be held at the house of Mary Withy, in Chester.

Delaware County was erected in the year 1789, and constituted one election district, and took off substantially the above-mentioned Fourth District, and the townships in the First District included in the new county, leaving Chester County with three districts, each comprising twelve townships, and voting respectively at West Chester, Red Lion, and Chatham. These districts were numbered the First, Second, and Third, but were more commonly known by the names of their places of voting, as the West Chester, Red Lion, and Chatham districts.

It will be observed that Chester County, after Delaware County was struck off, contained thirty-six townships. Some of these were, however, quite large, and have been since divided and subdivided. The election districts thus remained until 1797, when an act of Assembly was passed forming the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Districts. The Fourth District comprised West Caln, Sadsbury, East Fallowfield, and West Fallowfield, the elections to be held at the house of James Hollis, in East Fallowfield (now Humphreyville). The Fifth District comprised East Nottingham, West Nottingham, Upper Oxford, and Lower Oxford, the elections to be held at the house of Samuel Hood, on or near the line between the townships of Oxford and Nottingham (now borough of Oxford) ; the Sixth District. comprised East Nantmeal, Coventry, and Vincent, the elections to be held at the school-house near Pughtown ; and the Seventh District comprised Charlestown (then including Schuylkill), Easttown, Tredyffrin, Willistown, and

- 29 -

East Whiteland, the elections to be held at the house of Richard Robinson, in Tredyffrin township.

In 1798, Honeybrook, West Nantmeal (then including Wallace), and Brandywine were constituted the Eighth District, the elections to be held at the stone school-house near the Brandywine Manor meeting-house.

The grounds around the church were appropriated on election days by sutlers, and as " Old Rye" was plentiful and freely imbibed, patriotism became frequently demonstrative, and good Democrats and Federalists alike were the cause of scenes which ill comported with the surroundings.

The Ninth District, composed of the townships of Penns-bury, Kennet, East Marlborough, and Newlin, was formed in 1803, the elections to be held at the house of Joseph Peirce, in East Marlborough, commonly known by the name of the Red Lion tavern.

In 1804 all that part of West Caln that lay north of what was called Culbertson's road, to where it intersects the old Lancaster road, was annexed to the Eighth Ditrict ; but the act was repealed the next year (1805), when Sadsbury and West Caln were separated from the Fourth District and erected into the Tenth District, the elections to be held at the house of John Sloan, then occupied by John Jones, inn-keeper, in Sadsbury township.

In 1808, New London (then including Franklin) and London Britain were erected into the Eleventh District, the elections to be held at the house of John Menough, at New London Cross-roads (now the village of New London). This point was for a long time known in common parlance throughout the county as the " Cross-roads."

In 1810, West Bradford and Newlin were constituted the Twelfth District, the elections to be held at James Chamberlain's, in Marshallton. In the same year the elections in the Fourth District, which had been reduced to West Fallowfield and East Fallowfield, were directed to be thereafter held at the house of John Black, commonly known by the name of the Gum Tree tavern, and then occupied by William Gilliland.

In 1814 the elections in the Eighth District, composed of Honeybrook, West Nantmeal, and Brandywine, were removed from the school-house at Brandywine Manor church to the house occupied by Jacob Hower, inn-keeper, in Brandywine.

In 1818 all of East Nottingham lying south of what was called the Nottingham road was attached to the New London district for election purposes, and in the same year the elections in the Sixth District, composed of East Nantmeal, Coventry, and Vincent, which had been theretofore held at the school-house near Pughtown, were removed to the house of John Everhart, in Pughtown.

In 1820, East Caln and West Whiteland were formed into the Thirteenth District, and the elections directed to be held at the house of Jesse Evans, in Downingtown. In the same year Penn township, which had been erected in 1817, was attached to the New London election district.. The next year (1821) West Whiteland was reattached to the Second District, which held its elections at the Red Lion (now Lionville). This district was then composed of Uwchlan, Pikeland, and West Whiteland. The same year (1821) Honeybrook was formed into the Fourteenth Dis-

226 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

trict, and the elections directed to be held at the house of Samuel Bear.

In 1822 five new election districts were formed,—the Fifteenth, composed of Vincent and Pikeland, the elections to be held at Frederick Sheeder's, in Vincent ; the Sixteenth, composed of East Nantmeal (which then included Warwick), the elections to be held at Warwick schoolhouse ; the Seventeenth, composed of East Fallowfield, the elections to be held at the inn of Robert Young; the Eighteenth, composed of West Nantmeal (which then included Wallace), the elections to be held at the house of John Smith ; and the Nineteenth, composed of' West Caln, the elections to be held at the public-house of John Marsh.

In 1823 three new districts were formed,- the Twentieth, composed of the township of Charlestown (which then included Schuylkill), the elections to be held at the house of Robert Boyle, innkeeper; the Twenty-first, composed of Westtown, Thornbury, and Birmingham, the elections to be held at the public-house of Thomas Darlington, at Darlington's Corner ; and the Twenty-second, composed of Upper Oxford, the elections to be held at the house of Jacob Hopple. In the same year the elections in West Fallowfield, which had become a separate district in 1822 by the detaching of East Fallowfield, were removed from the Gum Tree to the house of Samuel Futhey, and that part of East Nottingham south of the Nottingham road, which in 1818 had been attached to the New London district for election purposes, was restored to the district voting at Oxford.

In 1824 the law creating the district of Westtown, Thornbury, and Birmingham was repealed, and those townships were restored to the West Chester district, from which they had been taken ; but in 1825 they were again constituted a separate district, and became the Twenty-second, Upper Oxford being numbered the Twenty-first.

In 1826, Kennet township was separated from the Ninth District, and became the Twenty-third, voting at the house of Harlan Gause, in Kennet Square.

In 1825 the elections in Coventry were directed to be held at Jacob Ecker's school-house ; in 1826 at the house of Chestnut Patterson ; in 1828 at the house of Matthias Geist ; and in 1829 at the house of Christian Funk.

In 1828 three new districts were formed,—the Twenty-fourth, composed of New Garden, which was detached from the Chatham district, the elections to be held at Jacob Taylor's inn ; the Twenty-fifth, composed of Pikeland, the elections to be held at the public-house of James Bones, at the Yellow Springs ; and the Twenty-sixth, composed of Schuylkill, which had been formed a new township in 1826 by the division of Charlestown, the elections to be held at the house of Abijah Stephens, soon afterwards of William Dewees, sign of the " Bull." By the detaching of Pikeland as a district from Vincent, the latter became also a separate district, and the elections were directed to be held at the house of Conrad Brodie, late Keely's.

In 1833, West Marlborough was detached from the Chatham district and constituted the Twenty-seventh District, the elections to be held at the public-house of Hayes Clark, at Doe Run.

In 1834, West Whiteland was created the Twenty-eighth District, the elections to be held at the house of George Boyer, at Oakland. This reduced the old Red Lion district (which originally embraced the whole of the northern part of Chester County) to one township, that of Uwchlan, which remains the Second District.

In 1835 three new districts were formed,—the Twenty-ninth, composed of West Nottingham, the elections to be held at the house of Joseph Kirk ; the Thirtieth, composed of Londonderry, the elections to be held at the house of Jacob Reese ; and the Thirty-first, composed of the township of West Vincent, the elections to be held at the Birch Run schoolhouse ; and the elections in East Vincent were directed to be thereafter held at the house of George Christman, Jr., on the Ridge road.

In 1836 the elections in West Nantmeal were removed to the Indiantown school-house.

In 1838 two districts were created,—the Thirty-second, composed of East Whiteland, the elections to be held at the house known as the " General Wayne Inn," and the Thirty-third, composed of the township of Penn, the elections to be held at the house of James M. Aitkens ; and the elections in Kennet were directed to be thereafter held at the house of Harlan Gause, known as the " Columbian Inn," in Kennet Square.

In 1839 three districts were created,—the Thirty-fourth, composed of London Britain, the elections to be held at the house of James Mackey ; the Thirty-fifth, composed of Willistown, the elections to be held at the house of John Kimes, in Sugartown ; and the Thirty-sixth, composed of East Pikeland, the elections to be held at the " Boarding-School Inn," kept by Willis J. Murker, in Kimberton ; West Pikeland to continue to vote at the Yellow Springs. The elections in East Whiteland were directed to be held at the White Horse.

The Ninth District, which, after the erection of Kennet as a separate district, was composed of East Marlborough, Pennsbury, and Newlin, voting at the new Red Lion, was in 1840 separated into three districts,—the Thirty-seventh, composed of Pennsbury, the elections to be held at the house of Joseph Lancaster, called " Pennsbury Inn ;" the Thirty-eighth, composed of Newlin., the elections to be held at the Brandywine school-house ; and East Marlborough to remain the Ninth District, the elections to be held at the Union Hotel, in Unionville. Easttown and East Bradford were also, in the same year (1840), made separate districts, Easttown being constituted the Thirty-ninth, the elections to be held at the house of Philip Kirk, sign of the " Leopard," and East Bradford the Fortieth, the elections to be held at the Black Horse tavern, on the Strasburg road. The elections in Charlestown were also directed to be thereafter held at the school-house near Major Little's.

Birmingham was constituted the Forty-first District in 1841, the elections to be held at the " Dilworthtown Inn ;" and in the same year the elections in Honeybrook were removed to the Octagonal school-house, on the Downingtown and Harrisburg turnpike-road.

In 1841 the township of Coventry was divided into North Coventry and South Coventry, and in 1842 North Coventry was constituted the Forty-second Election District, the elections to be held at the Halcyon school-house.

TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGH'S, ETC. - 227

In 1843 the elections in Tredyffrin township, which was all that then remained of the old Paoli district, were removed to the hotel at New Centreville. The elections in West Nantmeal were also removed to the house occupied by Rudolph Huzzard. In the same year the elections in East Nantmeal were removed to the Union school house, and Warwick township, erected the previous year by the division of East Nantmeal, became the Forty-third Election District.

In 1844 the township of Brandywine was divided into West Brandywine and East Brandywine, and the elections in East Brandywine, which became the Forty-fourth District, were directed to be held at the house of' Levi Alison.

In the same year the township of North Coventry was divided by the erection of East Coventry from its territory, and East Coventry became the Forty-fifth District. The elections in North Coventry were removed to Scheetz's school-house. The famous old Pughtown district, the Sixth, became, by the formation of new districts, reduced to the single small township of South Coventry.

The elections in New London were in 1844 directed to be thereafter held at the public-house of Benjamin Seal, and in 1847 the place of holding elections in West Nantmeal was- again removed to Indiantown school-house.

In 1848 the following changes of' place of holding elections took place : West Caln to Sandy Hill school-house, West Nottingham to house of Lewis Melrath, and Penns-bury to school-house No. 2.

In 1849 the borough of Phoenixville was erected, and became the Forty-sixth Election District. In the same year the place of holding elections in West Brandywine was changed to the Union school-house.

Pocopson township was formed in 1849 from parts of four adjoining townships, and in 1850 became the Forty-seventh Election District, the elections to be held at the house of Holton. C. Yarnall, in Locust Grove. This, in 1852, was changed to the " Pocopson Inn."

In 1852, West Nantmeal township was divided by decree of court, and the southern division thereof erected into a new township, called Springton. The next year the Legislature changed the name from Springton to Wallace, which it has since borne. The elections in West Nantmeal, which remained the Eighteenth District, were directed to be held at Allen's school-house, and the elections in Wallace, which became the Forty-eighth District, at the Indian, town school-house.

In the same year (1852) the township of New London was divided, and the township of Franklin erected from its eastern and southeastern part, and constituted the Forty-ninth Election District, the elections to be held at the house of Abitha Kimble, in the village of Kimbleville.

Valley township was formed from parts of Sadsbury, East Caln, West Caln, and West Brandywine—the larger part of its territory being taken from the first two townships—in the year 1853, and the elections directed to be held at the public school-house in Coatesville. .It became the Fiftieth District.

The township of West Fallowfield was divided in 1854, and the eastern division called Highland. The elections in West Fallowfield, which remained the Fourth District, were directed to be held at the " Cochranville Inn," and in Highland, which became the Fifty-first District, at the house of Samuel Futhey, where the elections had theretofore been held for the old township. In the same year the elections in East Brandywine were directed to be held at Guthrieville Hall, and the borough of Hopewell was made the Fifty-second Election District.

In 1857, Elk township was constituted from the southwestern part of East Nottingham, and became the Fifty-third District, the elections to be held at the house of John D. Wherry.

In 1858, Uwchlan township was divided, and the northern division called Upper Uwchlan, the elections to be held at the house of Jacob Beerbower (Eagle Hotel). It became the Fifty-fourth Election District. The lower division retained the name of Uwchlan, and continued the Second District, voting at the house of Cyrus Jacobs, in Lionville.

In 1867 the borough of Springville was incorporated, and became the Fifty-fifth Election District. Its name was subsequently changed to Spring City.

In the same year the borough of Coatesville was incorporated from Valley township, and the elections in the said township and borough were directed to be held at schoolhouse No. 7, in Coatesville, the former place of holding the elections having been sold.

Caln township was erected in 1868 from parts of Valley and East Caln, and became the Fifty-sixth District.

In 1871 the elections in Valley township were changed from school-house No. 7, in Coatesville, to school-house No. 5, in Valley township. Coatesville retained the name of the Fiftieth District, and Valley became the Fifty-seventh District.

The borough of Parkesburg was incorporated in 1872, and the borough of Atglen in 1875, both taken from Sadsbury township, and they became respectively the Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth Districts.

Sadsbury township was divided in 1878, and the western division thereof; called West Sadsbury, became the Sixtieth District.

POST-OFFICES.

The following is a list of the post-offices in Chester County, arranged in the order of their establishment, giving the dates when established, names of first postmasters, and noting the changes that have been made, and also giving the names of some that have been discontinued.

In addition to the post-offices located within the limits of the county, a list is given of offices outside but near to its borders, at which residents of the county receive, or have in the past received, their mail matter.

This office was first named and known as " Jennersville, or Londonderry." The latter name was dropped prior to 1820, and " Jennerville" adopted.

16. Chester Springs - Jan. 1, 1815 - Maxwell Kincaird.

This office was first called "Yellow Springs." The name was changed to " Chester Springs," April 5, 1827, and Henry Olwine appointed postmaster.

17. Black Horse - Jan. 15, 1816 - Wallace Boyd.

This office was first called " Blaek Horse Tavern," and the name changed to" Black Horse," Nov. 19, 1818. It was discontinued July 21, 1853, and re-established June 23, 1856.

18. Brandywine Manor - Oct. 23, 1316 - David Denny.

19. Frazer - Dec. 22, 1819 - Joseph Philips.

This office was first called " East Whiteland," and the name changed to "Frazer," Jan. 21, 1830, and Jacob T. Minster appointed postmaster. It was first located at what was known as the "Steamboat," on the Lancaster turnpike, but in August, 1861, it was removed to its present location at Frazer Station on the Pennsylvania Railroad.

20. Kimberton - Jan. 15, 1820 - Emmor Kimber.

21. Valley Forge - Jan. 16, 1820 - John Workizer.

22. Berwyn - Jan. 18, 1820 - Chalkley A. Jarrett.

This offiee was first called " Reeseville," and that continued to be the name until Oct. 24, 1877, when it was changed to " Berwyn," and Isaae A. Cleaver appointed postmaster.

23. Unionville - Dec. 5, 1820 - William Sharpe.

24. Warren Tavern - Dee. 7, 1820 - Charles Fahnestock.

25. Vincent - Feb. 13, 1821 - Peter Miller.

26. Dilworthtown - March 30. 1829 - William Speakman.

27. Mount Vernon - March 1, 1823 - Joseph Dickey.

28. Russellville - March 15, 1823 - Jacob Hopple.

29. Gun Tree - April 21, 1823 - Samuel McCann.

This office was first called " Clingan's," but changed to " Gum Tree," June 30, 1834, and Stephen B. Cochran appointed postmaster.

30. Kemblesville - Aug. 16, 1823 - George Kemble.

31. McWilliamstown - Jan. 20, 1824 - John T. Walton.

The name of this office was changed to " Youngsburg," Aug. 2, 1845, and changed back to " McWilliamstown," Dec. 30, 1847, and is now discontinued.

32. Warwick - Feb, 7, 1824 - Lewis Evans.

This office was first established at " St. Mary's," and so called until July 23, 1868, when the name was changed to "Warwick."

33. Uwchlan - March 11, 1825 - Isaac Evans.

34. Sadsburyville - April 22, 1825 - John Kendig.

35. Strickersville - May 23, 1825 - John M. Harman.

36. Goshenville - Nov. 4, 1825 - A. S. Williams.

37. West Whiteland - April 4, 1826 - Levi Evans.

The name of this office was ehanged to " Belvidere," July 14, 1843, and on March 11, 1850, changed back to " West Whiteland."

38. Lionville - May 26, 1826 - William Rogers.

39. West Vincent - May 26, 1826 - Samuel Kirk.

This office was first called "East Nantmeal." The name was changed to " West Vincent," March 25, 1843, and David West appointed postmaster, and ehanged back again to "East Nantmeal," April 22, 1843, and James Leighton appointed postmaster, and back to " West Vincent," April 7, 1846, and Jacob Ludwick appointed postmaster.

40. Paoli - Dec. 9, 1826 - Joshua Evans.

'41. Schuylkill - Dec. 31, 1826 - Thomas Matlack.

42. Doe Hun - Feb. 27, 1827 - Hayes Clark.

43. Honey brook - March 7, 1827 - John Lewis.

44. Settler's Store - Dee. 31, 1827 - Frederick Settler.

45. Parkersville - Jan. 1, 1828 - John Parker, Jr.

46. Wagontown - Jan. 30, 1828 - Joseph Hughs.

47. Marsh - March 25, 1828 - Watters Dowees.

This office was discontinued Nov. 12, 1851, and re-established April 22, 1864.

48. West Grove - June 23, 1828 - James Kelton.

The name of this office was changed to "West Grove Staaion," March 12, 1864, and back to " West Grove," Jan. 26, 1877.

49. Phoenixville - July 22, 1828 - Lewis W. Richards.

.50. Loag - Nov. 25, 1828 - Samuel E. Williams.

51. Avondale - Dec. 29, 1828 - Jacob Lindley.

52. Atglen - Jan. 21, 1830 - Isaac G. Israel.

This office was first called "Israel's Mills," and retained that name until March 15, 1842, when it was ehanged to " Penningtonville," and that was changed to " Atglen," Feb. 2, 1876.          -            .

53. Parkesburg - April 14, 1830 - Nathan Frame.

The first name of this office was " Fountain Inn," which it retained until May 3, 1836, when it was ehanged to "Parkesburg," and Jacob Taylor appointed postmaster.

54. Embreeville - May 11, 1830 - William Embree.

55. Swan (Sadsbury township) - May 7, 1830 - James Dickinson.

This office was discontinued July 24, 1843.

56. Hopewell Cotton-Works - Aug. 26, 1830 - Samuel J. Diekey.

57. Guthrieville - Jan. 7, 1831 - James B. Guthrie.

58. Hamorton - Jan. 7, 1831 - Abraham Hamor.

59. Thornburg - March 12, 1831 - Thomas W. Stephens.

60. Sugartown - Oct. 5, 1831 - Joseph H. Pratt.

This office was .first called "Williston," and the name changed to "Sugar-town," - July 7, 1835.            -

61. Rockville - Jan. 18, 1832  Jacob - Happersett.

62. Pickering - Dec. 28, 1833 - Robert Hughes.

63. Caln - Dec. 17, 1835 - Isaac O. Preston.

This office was discontinued Feb. 23, 1842, and re-established Nov. 8, 1849.

64. Steeleville - Feb. 1, 1841 - Thomas Woods.

65. Fremont - March 21, 1841 - Amor Carter.

This office was first called "Fountain Green," and the name changed to "Fremont," Aug. 10, 1861, and Isaac S. Kirk then appointed postmaster.

66. Wallace - Oct. 28, 1843 - George Stitcher.

67. Londonderry - Jan. 5, 1848 - William Fox.

68. Lewisville - Feb 7, 1848 - James B. McDowell.

69. Landenborg - Nov. 17, 1848 - Jacob Hobson.

This office was first established as " Chandlerville," and the name changed to " Landenburg," Sept. 20, 1869.

70. Chesterville - Nov. 30, 1848 - Milton Shortlidge.

71. Fairville - March 20, 1819 - John E. Leonard.

72. Milltown - Sept. 23, 1849 - Jesse Matlack.

73. Collamer - Oct. 11, 1849 - Thomas Baker.

74. Elk Dale - Nov. 8, 1849 - Samuel Hughes.

This offiee has reeently been discontinued.

75. Blue Rock - Dec. 17, 1849 - Charles Rettew.

76. Ercildoun - Feb. 12, 1850 - Gideon Peirce.

77. Marlborough - April 15, 1850 - Bayard Neilds.

78. Hickory Hill - June 18,1850 - Wm. O. Shuler.

79. Shuler - July 8, 1850 - James Hayes.

This office was recently discontinued, and again established as " Townsend."

80. St. Peter's - Feb. 19, 1851 - Joseph Millard.

81. Nottingham - Aug. 7, 1851 - Daniel Stubbs.

This office was first established as " Fountain Mills," and the name changed to " Nottingham," July 14, 1853.

82. Mortonville - Feb. 6, 1852 - Crosby P. Morton.

83. Forestville - May 18, 1852 - Thomas W. Harlan.

Discontinued June 4, 1859.

84. Waterloo Mills - Jan. 1, 1853 - William Steele.

Discontinued Sept. 25, 1867.

85. Willistown Inn - June 7, 1854 - Samuel Sinquet.

86. Thorndale Iron-Works - June 21, 1854 - David R. Baugh.

87. East Nantmeal - Feb. 6, 1856 - Jesse Ramstine

This office was discontinued April 4, 1865, and re-established July 10, 1874.

88. New Centreville - April 2, 1857 - Evans Kendall.

89. Chester Valley - April 25, t857 - Canby Smith.

90. Talbotville - June 19, 1857 - Thomas R. Jones.

This office was discontinued Jan. 27, 1875.

91. Glen Roy - Sept. 28, 1857 - Jesse B. Kirk.

92. West town - March 4, 1859 - Marshall A. Taylor.

This office was first called "Street Road," and retained that name until 1880, when it was changed to "Westtown."

93. Elk View - May 30, 1861 - Joseph Hodgson.

94. Exton - Sept. 4, 1861 - James Beale

95. Spring City - Sept. 29, 1864 - David S. Taylor..

96. Pomeroy - Oct. 13, 1864.

This office was first called " Buck Run," and the name changed to "Pomoroy," Jan. 17, 1866.

97. Leopard - April 2, 1866 - John W. Hayman.

98. Birch Runville - June 10, 1868 - Thomas B. Dewees.

99. Toughkenamon - Dec. 8, 1868 - William Foote, Jr.

100. Kaolin - Dec. 8, 1868 - William Foote, Jr.

101. Glenloch - May 17, 1869 - Mrs. Jane Waldron.

This office took the place of " Frazer," which was removed to another location. (See "Frazer.")

102. Wild Briar - May 21, 1869 - Levi Allison.

103. Pawling - May 21, 1869 - M. J. Ramsey.

104. Willowdale - May 21, 1869 - Joseph S. Pyle.

105. Valley Creek - May 21, 1869 - B. F. Stroud

This office was discontinued Jan. 18, 1871.

106. Lincoln University - July 6, 1869 - George Rigdon.

107. Glen Moore - Aug. 21, 1869 - Jacob S. Rigg.

This office was first called "Norwood," and the name changed to " Glen Moore," July 17, 1874.

108. Barneston - Oct. 21, 1869 - David Longacre,

109. Cupola - Oct 21, 1869 - Thomas R. Jones.

110. East Coventry - Oct. 22, 1869 - Teter D. Pinches.

111. Elk Mills - Oct. 22, 1869 - Joseph R. Brown.

112. Milford Mills - Oct. 22, 1869 - Evan B. Evans.

113. Dorlan's Mills - Jan. 21, 1870 - Thomas J. Dorian.

114. Lenape -  Jan. 21, 1870 - John P. Sager.

115. Chrome - April 29, 1870 - John. T. Williamson.

116. Pocopson

This offiee was originally established as "Painter's Bridge," on Dec. 19, 1870, and the name changed to "Pocopson" on Sept. 2, 1880.

117. Northbrook - Jan. 27, 1871 - R. H. Marshall.

118. Suplee - Jan 27, 1871 - Horatio J. Suplee.

119. Norway - Jan. 31, 1871 - E. B. Darlington.

120. Martin's Corner - Feb. 24, 1871 - Ziba C. Wollarton.

121. Glen Hall - April 10, 1871 - William H. Hall.

122. Kelton - April 10, 1871 - Robert O. Kelton.

123. Isabella - April 13, 1871 - Samuel W. Long.

124. Cambria Station  - June 14, 1872 - John Oberholtzer.

125. West Pi k eland - Judy 26, 1872 - John S. Hines.

126. Rosenvick - July 26, 1872 - John C. Ferron.

127. Modena - March 24, 1873 - Robert B. Daniels

128. Nantmeal Village - Feb. 15, 1876 - Davis K. Loomis.

129. Valley Glen - Aug. 15, 1876 - Frank C. Houton.

This office was discontinued Feb. 14, 1878.

130. Malvern - Dec. 8, 1876 - Lewis K. Reeves.

131. Cedarville - March 26, 1878 - D. M. Sharter.

This office was originally called " North Coventry," which was established April 5, 1870.

132. Dugdale  - Feb. 19, 1879 - John L. Smedley.

133. Cedar Knoll - June 18, 1879 - Zebulon W. Davis.

134:Maple Shade - Sept. 24, 1879 - Samuel Items.

This office was discontinued April 19, 1880.

135. Shenkel - June 28, 1880 - Lewis L. Baehman.

136. Swan - June 22, 1880 - James W. Kelm.

The name of this offiee was first spelled "Suawn," but changed to "Swan," July 20, 1880.

137. Lyndell - Aug. 30, 1880 - James Rea.

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS - 229

138. Romansville, - Oct. 25, 1880 - T. W. Baldwin.

139. Cloud - Jan. 20, 1881 - Thomas H. Smedley.

140. Townsend - Feb. 18, 1881 - Henry Powley.

This office takes the place of that formerly known as " Hayesville."

141. Mendenhall - March 14, 1881 - Geo. M Thomson.

142. Matthews - March 25, 1881 - James Lumis.

143. Talcose - June, 1881 - W. Cunningham.

This office takes the place of Valley Glen.

Post-offices outside of Chester County, at which residents of the county receive their mail :

IN LANCASTER COUNTY.

1. Cains - July 5, 1828 - John Cain.

2. Octorara - July 19, 1833 - Benjamin Kent.

This office was established as "Andrew's Bridge," and the name changed to " Octorara," Feb. 25, 1850.

3. Christiana - Aug. 8, 1849 - Frederick Zamacher.

4. Cambridge  - Jan. 30, 1851 - John W. Irwin.

IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

1. Pottstown - March 11, 1821 - Jesse Thomas.

2. King of Prussia.

3. Royer's Ford - March 25, 1844 - David Gow.

4. Limerick Station.

Previous to April, 1866, this office was called "Limerick Bridge."

IN DELAWARE COUNTY.

1. Edgemont - Feb. 25, 1823 - Lewis Verdries.

2. Chads' Ford - Jan. 21, 1843 - Isaac Watkins.

3. Cheyney - Feb. 23, 1859 - Charles H. Cheyney.

IN NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWARE.

1. Newark - June 1,1808 - John Macbeth.

2. Centreville - Dec. 8, 1897 - Ezekiel Bally.

3. McClellandsville - Feb. 19, 1853 - Wm. Crompton.

4. Hockessin - Dec. 26, 1863 - Jane J. Griffith.

5. Yorklyn - June 13,1873 - Wm. S. Moore.

IN CECIL COUNTY, MARYLAND.

1. Brick Meeting-house - Jan. 1, 1803 - Ellis Chandlee.

2. Rising Sun - Jan. 1, 1803 - David Cummings.

LIST OF POSTMASTERS OF THE POST-OFFICE AT WEST CHESTER, WITH THE DATES OF THEIR APPOINTMENT.

Cromwell Pearce, Jan. 1, 1804; Job B. Remington, Jan. 1, 1811; Joseph Pearce, Feb. 29, 1812; John W. Townsend, June 4, 1814; Jesse Kersey, Feb. 23, 1S27; John W. Townsend, Feb. 2t, 1828; John Newlin, Feb. 9, 1829; Edward S. Price - Jan. 15, 1833 - Samuel C. Jefferis, Feb. 19, 1841 - Hickman James, Juno 5, 1841 ; John McGinley, May 10, 1843; George H. Yard, Nov. 13, 1846; James Bayard Wood, May 2, 1840 ; William A. Moore, May 23, 1853; Gibbons Gray, June 3, 1858; Dr. Franklin Taylor, May 11, 1861 ; Maj. William B. Darlington, June 3, 1865; George A. Mercer, Jan. 31, 1877.

The postmasters of West Chester were appointed by the Postmaster-General until 1849, since which time they have been appointed by the President. J. B. Wood was the first Presidential appointment.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

This sect arose in England about the middle of the seventeenth century, George Fox, their acknowledged founder, having been born in 1624. The name of Quakers was given to them in derision, and they are perhaps as well known by that term to this day as by that of Friends. They even accepted it themselves so far as to style themselves " the people called Quakers" in all official documents published to the world at large. The early form of marriage certificates contained the expression " the people of God called Quakers," but in 1734 the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania and New Jersey agreed " that ye words of God in marriage certificates between People and Called Quakers be left out of that form for the future." In 1806 the expression was changed to the " Religious Society of Friends."

There have been schisms and divisions in this society as well as in others, the most important of which occurred in 1827, since which one body has been styled " Orthodox" and the other " Hicksite" Friends or Quakers. The last were so called from Elias Hicks, a leading minister among them. Neither body claims the distinctive title applied to it, but simply that of " Friends."

The organization and subordination of the meetings of Friends are as follows:

One or more meetings for worship constitute a Preparative Meeting.

One or more Preparative Meetings constitute a Monthly Meeting.

Several Monthly Meetings constitute a Quarterly Meeting.

Several Quarterly Meetings constitute a Yearly Meeting.

Meetings of any kind are established as an outgrowth and by the authority of a superior meeting. The Monthly Meetings are the principal executive branch of the society, and keep regular and voluminous minutes of their proceedings. To trace the history of the meetings in Chester County it is necessary to go back to the first settlement of the province, and in some cases outside of our present State limits. All our meetings except one belong to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, but some others will be mentioned. The following is given as a synopsis of meetings :

PHILADELPHIA QUARTERLY MEETING, 16S2.

RADNOR OR HAVERFORD MONTHLY MEETING, 1684.

Haverford, 1683.

Radnor, 1686.

Valley, 1714.

CHESTER (NOW CONCORD) QUARTERLY MEETING, 1683.

CHESTER MONTHLY MEETING, 1681.

Chester, 1675.

Springfield, 1686.

Providence, 1696.

Middletown, 1686.

DARBY MONTHLY MEETING, 1684.

Darby, 1683 (?).

CONCORD MONTHLY MEETING, 1684.

Chichester, 1683.

Concord, 1685.

230 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

GOSHEN MONTHLY MEETING, 1722.

Goshen, 1702.

Newtown, 1696.

Willistown, 1784.

Whiteland, 1816.

Malvern, 1880 (0.).

BIRMINGHAM MONTHLY MEETING, 1815.

Birmingham, 1690.

West Chester, 1810.

WESTERN QUARTERLY MEETING, 1758.

NEWARK (NOW KENNET) MONTHLY MEETING, 1686.

New Castle, 1684.

Newark, 1686.

Kennet, 1707.

Wilmington, 1737.

Marlborough, 1801.

Kennet Square, 1812.

Unionville, 1845 (H.).

NEW GARDEN MONTHLY MEETING, 1718.

New Garden, 1712.

West Grove, 1787.

London Britain, 1834 (O.).

Mill Creek, 1838 (H.).

LONDONGROVE MONTHLY MEETING, 1792.

Londongrove, 1714.

Fallowfield, 1792.

FALLOWFIELD MONTHLY MEETING, 1811.

Fallowfield, 1792.

Doe Run, 1805.

PENNSGROVE MONTHLY MEETING, 1842.

Pennsgrove, 1820.

Oxford, 1879 (H.).

Homeville, 1839 (H.).

CENTRE MONTHLY MEETING, 1808.

Centre, 1687.

Hockessin, 1730.

CALN QUARTERLY MEETING, 1800.

BRADFORD MONTHLY MEETING, 1737.

Bradford, 1719.

Cain, 1716.

West Cain, 1756.

Romansville, 1846 (H.).

SADSBURY MONTHLY MEETING, 1738.

Sadsbury, 1723.

E. Sadsbury, 1810.

Lampeter, 1732.

UWCHLAN MONTHLY MEETING, 1763.

Uwchlan, 1712.

Nantmeal, 1739.

Pikeland, 1758.

Downingtown, 1784.

BALTIMORE YEARLY MEETING.

NOTTINGHAM QUARTERLY MEETING, 1819.

NOTTINGHAM MONTHLY MEETING, 1730.

E. Nottingham, 1705.

W. Nottingham, 1719.

Elk, 1825.

PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING,

as it is now styled, was established in 1681. It was formerly the " Yearly Meeting for Pennsylvania and New Jersey," and was held alternately at Burlington and Philadelphia until 1760.

CHESTER MEETING.

Robert Wade settled at Upland in 1675, and in that year William Edmundson, a traveling minister, held a meeting there. A meeting was probably held regularly after 1677, by which time several other Friends had arrived in the neighborhood.

As the early history of our county is closely connected with the history of this meeting, some further notes will be given from the records.

CHESTER MONTHLY MEETING.

A session of Burlington Monthly Meeting was " held at Upland, in the house of Robert Wade, the 15th of the 9th month, 1681," but the first meeting of the kind, held by Friends of the Western Shore alone, is set forth in the following minutes :

"the 10 day of ye 11 month, 1681.

"A monthly meeting of frends helonging to marcus hooke & vpland

held then at Robert Wad's house."

" the 14 day of ye 12 month, 1681.

"A monthly meeting heeld by frends at marcus hookc."

No other meeting mentioned until

" the 9th day of ye 3d me. 1682.

"A monthly meeting held then by freends belonging to marcus hooke & vpland at Robert Wad's house."

No business appears to have been transacted up to this time. The next date is

" the 3 day of ye 6th month 1652.

"A monthly meeting held then by fronds belonging to marcus hooke alis Cheehester & vpland and ye adioyning Inhabetants, at Robert Wad's house.

"At this meeting William Clayton juner and elezebeth bezor, both living at Chechester have declared their Intentions of marriage : (cc its ordered by the meeting that morgan druet & Robert Wade doe make enquirey conserving them & give it in to ye next monthly meeting."

" At the monthly meeting at vpland the 11th 7 mo. 1652.

" Large paper booke, unruled, being fitt for the servise of monthly and quarterly meetings is to be procured against the next monthly meeting, & Robt. Wade is desired to get the said booke."

It was then agreed and ordered for . . .

" The monthly meetings for men & women to be the first second day of the week in every month at Robt. Wade's house.

" Wm. Clayton & Elizabeth Bezor did again present their former intentions of marriage, but friends findeing that her parents were absent and had not their consent for such proceedings, nor certificate of her clearness from other men, did advise these parties to waite further untill all things be cleared according to the practise of friends and good order of truth."

The following are the headings of the monthly minutes succeeding the above :

"At the men's meeting at Upland the : 2 : day of the 8 : month : 82." "At the men's meeting at Vpland the 6th of 9 mo. 82." "At our men and womcn's meeting at Chester the : 1 : of: 11 month : 82."

These entries are from the original minutes, and not from the inaccurate copy made by Thomas Chalkley about the year 1711, in which he gave the word Chester instead of Upland, besides many other changes.*

At the first Quarterly Meeting held at Chester, 12th month 4, 1683-4, it was again " ordered yt Chester Monethly meateing be held on ye first second Day of Eaverey Moneth." In 1695 the time was changed to one week earlier.

* The old book appears to bear this inscription, though very dim with age: " The Register Booke belonging to Marcus hook and Upland Meeting, ye 3d of ye 6 month 1681."

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS - 231

The meeting was for some time held at Chester, perhaps at Robert Wade's house ; but at a meeting held 12th month 7, 1686, it was " order'd yt ye monthly meeting from hence forth be kept at Walter fosett's house untell farther order." Thus it continued until 1693, when it began to circulate at the houses of John Simcock, in Ridley, Robert Vernon, Thomas and Randall Vernon, John Edge, George Maris, Caleb Pusey, Joseph Stedman, and Bartholomew Coppock. After 1700 it circulated more at the meeting-houses, finally becoming settled at Providence.

At a Quarterly Meeting held 6th month 1, 1687, it was " Agreed that there be a monthly meeting keept up in the woods for the service of ffriends &truth, in those partes, as Newtown, Marple, Springfield, over Providence, Middletowne, & Edgment." It does not appear, however, that any such meeting was kept up as distinct from Chester Monthly Meeting.

Friends of Aston belonged at first to Chester Monthly Meeting, but in 1696 were allowed to join with Chichester and Concord Monthly Meeting.

In 1721 the number of meetings had increased to seven, viz. : Chester, Springfield, Providence, Middletown, Goshen, Newtown, and Uwchlan, which met together for the last time 12th month 26, 1721, after which the last three held a separate Monthly Meeting.

At a Monthly Meeting held 11th of 7th month, 1682:

"It was then agreed yt a meeting shall be held for ye service & worship of god every first day at ye court house at Vpland.

"And also agreed that there be three meetings in the week time; the westerne part to meet at Chichester the 5th day of the week, and the middle meeting at Harold at Wm. Woodmansons, the 9th day of the week, and the Eastern meeting at Ridley, at John Simcocks, the .5th day of the week, untill otherwise ordered."

It seems evident that all were to meet together on First days at Upland.

A place of burial was among the early necessities of the settlers, and accordingly we find that at a meeting held at Chester, 1st of 11th month 1682, it was agreed

" that Tho. Cobern & Randel Varnam & Will. Cleton [Clayton] doe see and vew that place which is ordered for the buriall plase, and to see what wil be the lactingest fence and that which will endure, and to see whether their̊ be stone to make wales, and to bring it to the next monthly meeting, or to aquint fiends betwixt an then if they shall find it needful to set men about it."

Again, 12 mo. 5, 1682, "it was ordered yt John Hastings Richard ffew & Thomas Colborn doe veiw ye Buriall place to considder wt quantity may be meet; alsoe how it may be best fensed about."

The matter not being yet accomplished, at a meeting at Robert Wade's house, 4th month 11, 1683,

"it was agreed that Thomas. Brassie, Robert Wade, John Hastings Thomas Colborn & Randle Vernon doe veiw & looke out a piece of Land for a Buriall, & hring in their accompt thereof at y o next months meeting."

At a meeting held 9th month 5, 1683, it was " ordered yt Jo. Hastings & Tho. Vernon doe fence the Buriall ground about, assone as may be."

4 mo. 6, 1687.-" Agreed that Bartholomew Coppock, James Kenerly, Randall Vernon & Caleb Pusey do agrec & contract with such workmen or workman as they shall see meet to build a meeting house att Chestcr 24 foot square & 10 foot high in yo walls & yt ye abovesaid persons do come themselves & the said workmen they agree & give an account thercof to ye ncxt monthly meeting."

10th month 5th, 1687, the " ffeofees chosen in trust for ye purchased land & meeting house at Chester" were John Simcock, John Bristow, Joshua Hastings, Thomas Brassie, Thomas Vernon, Randall. Vernon, Caleb Pusey, Edward Carter, Walter Faucet, Mordecai Maddock, Richard Few, and Thomas Martin. To these persons Urin Keen (Jöran Kyn) conveyed, by deed dated the 1st of 1st month following, a lot of ground in Chester, " To the use & behoof of the sd Chester meeting of the people of God called Quakers," for and in consideration of £10 current money of Pennsylvania.

On the 13th of 8th month, 1690, the following persons were appointed to receive subscriptions towards building a meeting-house in Chester : for Upper Providence, Randall Malin ; for Middletown, John Worrall and David Ogden ; for Edgemont, Thomas Worrilow and James Swaffer ; for Springfield, George Maris the younger and Mordecai Maddock ; for Marple, Thomas Pearson and Josiah Taylor.

2 mo. 6, 1691.-"Its agreed by this meeting that John Bristow and Caleb Pusey do forthwith agree with & Imploy workmen in the building ye meeting-house at Chester with stone on the place yt was formerly bought for that purpose, the situateing of which, as allso ye manner of Building the same is left to their discretion : And that this meeting do defray the charge of the same so that it exceed not one hundred pounds, and that theie be one convenient chimney, at least, and that the sd John. Bristow & Caleb Pusey do give account of what they have done at ẙ next months meeting."

1st month 5, 1693-4, John Simcock, Randall Vernon, Walter Faucet, Robert Barber, and Robert Carter were appointed to meet with John Bristow and Caleb Pusey to examine their accounts, " and also to receive ye Deed of ye Land-the sd house stands upon."

At a Quarterly Meeting, 12th month 1, 1696, it was requested

"that the weekly 5th days meeting at Ridley. be kept the last 5th day in each month at Chester, which this meeting consents unto."

3 mo. 2, 1698.-" Chester ffriends desiering the weekly meeting to be at Randall Vernons the second 5th day of each month, this meeting doth allow it.

" It's also agreed that the meeting at Thomas Minshalls do joyne with them that day."

3 mo. 3, 1703.-" Ordered by this mceting that Chester week days meeting be at Randall Vernon's every first fifth day in each month, & the other days at Chester Towne."

3 mo. 6, 1706.-" Chester months meeting moveing that whereas their weekly fifth-days meeting haveing been kept once a month at Randall Vernon's house, may for the future be at Chester Towne, which this meeting approves off untill further order."

At Monthly Mtg, 6, 31, 1702.-" Chester meeting proposcth their intentions of purchaseing a burying-place in the town, which this meeting approves of, provided they preserve and keep in Good order the Old Burying-Place."

8 mo. 25, 1703.-Memorandum that "the Deeds of Chester meeting house and Land is in the hands of Randall Vernon."

CHICHESTER MEETING.

At a Monthly Meeting held at Upland, 7th month 11, 1682, it was agreed that there should be a meeting at Chichester on the Fifth day of the week, but it was' not until the 1st of 11th month following that

" it was condescended to that frinds at Chichester may hold a meeting there on the first day of the weik for the servis of God untill the next monthly meeting, then to have further aprobation conserning it."

The approbation was doubtless giVen at the next meeting, but not minuted.

232 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

At Quarterly Meeting, 6 mo. 3, 1696.-" Chichester Monthly meeting being called the meeting consents that their weekly meeting be on the 6th day of the week."

12, 1, 1696.-" Chichester Monthly Meeting being called they requesting ye alteration of their weekly meeting to the 5th day as formerly, which this meeting consents unto."

James Browne, by deed of 10th month 4, 1688, conveyed two acres of ground in Chichester to William Clayton, Sr., Philip Roman, Robert Pyle, Jacob Chandler, Joseph Bushell, and John Kingsman, for the use of Friends, whereon a meeting-house was built soon after. It was destroyed by fire 12th month 4, 1768, and rebuilt the following year.

PHILADELPHIA QUARTERLY MEETING.

This was established in 1682, and the Welsh settlers in Chester County set up their meetings as branches thereof. This caused some dissatisfaction on the part of the English Friends, and the matter was finally arranged that, after Haverford, Radnor, and Newtown, no other meetings should be set up in this county except by consent of Chester Quarterly Meeting.

HAVERFORD MEETING.

This was probably held as early as 1683.

HAVERFORD MONTHLY MEETING

was first held 10th of 2d month (April), 1684, and included the meetings of Haverford, Merlon, and Schuylkill, the latter being held near the present Market Street bridge, Philadelphia.

DARBY MEETING

was doubtless held in 1683. A Monthly Meeting of this name was first held 5th month 2, 1684. Although the families of this meeting spread into other parts, no meeting was ever set up as a branch thereof.

CHESTER QUARTERLY MEETING,

now and since 1800 known as Concord Quarterly Meeting, was held for the first time 12th month 4, 1683-4, at Chester. In 1686 it was agreed to hold the meeting at Walter Faucet's house, in Ridley, but after 1693 it circulated at the houses of Thomas and Randall Vernon, Edward Carter, Joseph Stedman, and Robert Vernon until 1700, when it was settled mostly at Providence meeting-house. In 1716 it was removed to Concord meeting-house.

CONCORD MONTHLY MEETING.

At a Quarterly Meeting at Chester, 12th month 4, 1683-4, it was ordered that " Chechester Monethly Meateing be ye second second day of eavery moneth."

"The fearst monthly meeting held by friends in Chichestcr on ye 17th of the first month, in ye year 16S4.

"William Hews,} John Bezer,

John Harding."

At a meeting held 4, 9, 1684, a subscription was made to assist Thomas Moore to build a house, in which the following persons joined : John Harding, Morgan Drewitt, Valentine Hollingsworth, William Hews, James Browne, William Clayton, Sr., John Bezer, John Kingman, and J. C. (Jacob Chandler ?).

At a Quarterly Meeting, 6mo. 2, 1686.-" Ordered that ye monthly meeting formerly held at Chechester be from henceforth kept one month at Chechester and one month kept at Concord & ye next monthly meeting to begin at Concord, untill farther order."

For some time it was known as Chichester and Concord Monthly meeting after 1729 it was held altogether at

Concord.

CONCORD MEETING.

At a Quarterly Meeting at Chester, 9th month 1, 1685 :

"It is agreed yt e meeting formerly held at John Gibbons house should from this time forewords be held one first day & one fourth day at John Gibbons' & another first day & fourth day at Nicolas Newland's untill further order."

6 mo. 2, 1686.-" Agreed yt ye meeting formerly ordered to be one first day at Nicolas Newland's and ye other first day at John Gibins's be from this time removed & kept at Nicholas Newlands only, till further order (viz.) ye first & 4th days meeting."

At Mo. Mtg., 4, 13, 1692.-" Margery Gibbins Apeared at this meeting and Apeared more Tender & low then heretofore and desired that diference betwixt her & friends may be ended. At length friends & she concluded to roller the seperate meeting yt they keepe at there house to the determination of the Quarterly meeting, she promiseing to stand & Abide by the Judgment of the Quarterly meeting."

At Quarterly Mtg., 9 mo. 4, 1605.-" Chichester monthly meeting being called it was agreed that Concord meeting which was moveable be now fixed at the new meeting house."

NEWARK MONTHLY MEETING,

now and since 1760 known as Kennet Monthly Meeting, was first held in 1686.

At Chester Quarterly Meeting, 12th month 1, 1685:

"Its agreed yt from henceforth no meeting wt ever relating to ye service of Truth be set up wth out advising wth & having consent of ye quarterly meeting.

"Agreed yt ye friends of Newcastle County according to their proposition may erect or set up a six weeks meeting as they shall see cause."

The meeting so established does not appear to have been held very regularly for the first year. The first entry in the record is as follows :

"At the Monthly Meeting held at the Widow Welsh's 3mo. -, 1686 : Edward Gibbs & Judith Crawford proposed their Intentions of marriage with each other, yo man produceing a Certificate from ye monthly meeting in Maryland, signifieing his Clearness There: Valentine Hollingsworth & Robt Vance were appointed to make a further Inquiry."

Although established by consent of Chester Quarterly Meeting, Newark did not at first send representatives thereto, but every third meeting was considered a Quarterly Meeting until

3, 6, 1693.-" Its agreed by this meeting yt we join ourselves to Chaster Quarterly Meeting (and their Consent we have thereto)."

6 mo. 28, 1687.-" At our Monthly Meeting at ye Widow Welshes, this meeting haveing taken into Consideration ye matter of ye Mans Meeting which hitherto hath been kept at New Castle & finding upon Due Consideration yt it may be more Convenient for ye present that it be kept twice on ye other side of Brandywine and ye third which will be Quarterly Meeting to he kept at New Castle ye first 7th day in Every Month be ye wens meeting. The Meeting Consents yt there shall be a Weekly Meeting about Whitely Creek where friends there shall think fit."

By " man's meeting" they intended the meeting for business, in which the women probably took no part at that date. The Monthly Meeting was mostly held at Valentine Hollingsworth's after 1689, but it circulated to various houses up to 3d month 6, 1704, when

"This meeting Orders that our next Monthly Meeting be held at ye Center well is supposed to be at George Harlans ould house."

It was held last at Newark in 1707, but after Centre meeting-house was built it was mostly held there for some

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS - 233

years. At length it became Settled at Kennet, and on that account dropped the old name of Newark.

NEW CASTLE MEETING

The date of the establishment of this meeting has been fixed at 1684. John Hussey, John Richardson, Edward Blake, George Hogg, and Benjamin Swett were members thereof. In 1688 a committee was appointed to view a place for a meeting-house and graveyard.

NEWARK MEETING.

In 1684 a survey of 986 acres was made for Valentine Hollingsworth on Shelpot Creek, in New Castle County, and called " New Worke" in the surveyor's return. Whether that was a corruption of " Newark" or vice versa has not been ascertained, but in old documents the meeting was often written " New-Work." Valentine Hollingsworth gave half an acre for a burying-place, 11, 7, 1687, " there being some already buryed in ye spot." A meeting-house was afterwards built, but the meeting ceased to be held there about 1754.

CENTRE MEETING

10, 7, 1687.—" At ye request of friends beyond Brandywine to have a meeting there this winter season, to which friends is willing and thereto consents."

10, 7, 1689.—" George Harlan Desireing ye Concurrance of ffriends on behalf of ye familys on ye other side of Brandywine for ye holding of a meeting this winter season amongst themselves by reason of the dangerousness of ye ford to which ye meeting agrees and Consents."

George Harlan's later residence was in what is now Pennsbury, but in 1689 it was perhaps farther south.

9, 7, 1702.—" ffriends on ye south side of Brandywine haveing requested yt they may have Every other first day a meeting on their side ye Creek this meeting haveing taken it into Consideration allows thereof and for ye more certain knowledge and settlement of our meeting it is thought Expedient and necessary yt our meetings be kept only at two places vizt at Newark, at Valentine Hollingsworth's, one first day, and on ye other side of Brandywine ye other first day."

In 1708 a meeting-house forty feet by twenty feet was directed to be built, but it does not appear to have been accomplished for some time after.

5, 1, 1710.—" Its agreed upon yt Allphonsus Kirk is to be allowed 78. 6d. V acre for what Land ye meeting house have occation for not exceeding six Acres."

9, 3, 1711.—" This meeting appoints George Harlan, Thos. Hollingsworth Allphonsus Kirk and Samll Graves to take ye oversight of ye building of ye Center meeting house requesting ym wth all Convenient speed to let out ye work to some workmen in order yt it may be ye more speedily done and return an aeon to ye next meeting how they proceed."

MIDDLETOWN MEETING.

At a Quarterly Meeting, 3, 3, 1686:

"Agreed yt a meeting be kept at John Boiters upon yt same first day it used to be at Bartholomew Coppocks for ye ease of such yt live westerly in ye woods and ye rest of friends living ye other way Upon yt same day to meet at ffrancis Stanfields until further consideration."

3, 4, 1696.—" It is agreed that a meeting be settled at John Bowater's every first and fifth day."

9, 6, 1699.—" The ffriends of John Bowaters meeting Lay their Intentions of Building a meeting house. This meeting constitutes & appoints Philip Roman, Robert Pyle, Nathaniel Newlin, George Robinson, John Hood Sr John Wood to determine the place for that service and make report to ye next Quarterly meeting under all their Hands that it may be entred in this meeting Book."

- 30 -

This committee reported in favor of building upon the land belonging to the said meeting's burying-ground. This was called Middletown Meeting as early as 1702.

SPRINGFIELD MEETING.

See Middletown in 1686. At Quarterly Meeting, 6th month 2, 1686 :

"Agreed yt ye meeting at francis Stanfields upon fresh consideration be Removed to Bartholomew Coppock's ye younger, to begin ye next first day and ye 4th day folowing until] friends see cause to remove it."

3 mo. 4, 1696.—" This meeting consents yt the meeting at Bartholomew Coppocks be settled every first and 3d day."

3 mo. 2, 1698.—" Its also agreed that the meeting at Bartholomew Coppocks on the 3d day be on ye 5th day."

12 mo. 6, 1698-9.—" The friends belonging to Springfield meeting propose their intentions of building a meeting house at their grave yard, which this Quarterly meeting Consents unto."

At Chester Mo. Mtg., 8, 25, 1703.—" Memorandum, that the Deeds of the meeting house and Land of Springfield is Lodged in the hands of George Maris, sen'r."

At Quarterly Meeting, 6, 13, 1739, it was ordered that £18 should be paid to Friends of Springfield to help them to defray the charge of rebuilding their meeting-house, the

same being the interest on Joseph Need's donation, and paid by his request.

PROVIDENCE MEETING.

At a Quarterly Meeting, 3d month 4, 1696, it is agreed that a meeting be settled at Thomas Minshall's every First and Fourth day.

3, 2, 1698.—" Its also agreed that the meeting at Thomas Minshall's do joyne with them [those who met at Randall Vernon's once a month] on that day."

12, 6, 1698-9.—" The friends belonging to Thomas Minshalls meeting Propose their Intention of building a meeting house at the burying ground by Tho : Powells. This meeting upon consideration thereof think fitt to deferr the matter untill the next Quarterly meeting. It being the sense of this meeting that no meeting house be hereafter built upon any new situation without ye advice dc consent of -the Quarterly meeting."

"This meeting appoints Caleb Pusey, Thomas Worth, John Hood, George Peirce, Nicholas Pyle & Robert Carter to meet with those ffriends belonging to Thomas Minchall's meeting, to view St consider of the most convenient place where to sett the above proposed meeting house."

3 mo. 1, 1699.—" According to the order St request of ye Last Quarterly meeting The friends appointed to inspect into do consider of the most convenient place to build the meeting house to answer that of Tho : Minchall's Do make return under their hands that it is their sense that at the farther end of Thomas Minchall's Land by ye high roade side is the most Convenient place for that service & accordingly this meeting approves of ye same."

6 mo. 5, 1700.—" Ordered that the next Quarterly meeting be held at the new meeting house in Nether Providence."

9 mo. 4, 1700—" Nether Providence ffriends request that their first days .1c week days meeting be removed from Thomas Minchalls to their new meeting house which this meeting alowes off."

3 mo. 12, 1701.—" Providence meeting requesting that whereas their weekly meeting being the second 5th day of each month at Randel Vernon's it may be removed to the new meeting house, which this meeting doth alow off."

RADNOR MEETING.

This is mentioned as early as 1686, but no house appears to have been built until about 1693.

BIRMINGHAM MEETING:

At Chester Quarterly Meeting, 9th mo. 3, 1690 :

" Chichester monthly meeting being called, it being moved to this meeting that Concord' first days

meeting be every fourth first day at

234 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

William Brinton's in Birmingham, begining the 23d of this month ; also the fourth day following if the said meeting think fitt : this to continue till further order."

At Mo. Mtg., 3mo. 14, 1694.-" The business referr'd to this meeting concerning another meeting at Bromidgam this meeting thinkes fitt it should continew at present as it is."

8 mo. 9, 1704.-" John Bennett and Elizabeth Webb in the behalf of friends, Inhabitants of the uper part of burningham and brandiwine Creek with the advice of the preparative meeting of Concord did Request of this meeting that they might have A meeting att John Bennet's house this winter time because of their farr Living from Concord meeting house. This meeting well waying and considering for the Ease of friends and serviee of truth did agree and conclude, with the advice of the quarterly meeting, the first meeting to be the third first day in the 9th month next, and so every other first day untill the second first day in the first month following and also every fifth day following Except that fifth day which the preparative meeting is held at Coneord, and then to meet together as usiall."

At Mo. Mtg., 12, 3, 1717.-" The friends of the upper part of Burmingham haveing had a meeting for every other first day during the winter seasons and now they saide friends doth request that they may have it the same time all the year about, which this meeting doth alow of it in order to goe to ye quarterly meeting for their approbation."

At Quarterly Meeting, 9, 10, 1718.-" Concord monthly meeting Layd before this meeting a proposall of Burmingham friends of Building themselves a meeting house to whom this meeting Gives Leave provided that they and their monthly meeting ean agree on a place to Build it and make report to our next meeting."

12, 9, 1718.-" According to Leave Given at our Last meeting to Burmingham friends to Build themselves a meeting house have signified from their monthly meeting that they have a Greed of-a place whereon to Build it whieh is upon Riehard Webbs Land near the Great Road well this meeting is satisfied with."

At Mo. Mtg., 9 mo. 6, 1721.-" The friends of Burmingham meeting Layde before this meeting a propousall for sum of their friends belonging to their meeting to be chosen as fefees in trust upon ye aceount of theire meeting house and ground : it's the mind of this meeting to chouse William Brinton, Joseph Taylor, Philip Taylor, John Bennett, Joseph Brinton and Nicholas ffreed."

BIRMINGHAM MEETING-HOUSE.

To these persons Elizabeth Webb, widow of Richard, conveyed an acre of ground (10, 27, 1721) for £3, and the meeting-house was built by the next year, as the marriage of Joseph Webb and Ann Willis was accomplished therein 7, 13, 1722. It is said to have been built of cedar logs, and was without a chimney or stove for heating it. The date of erection of the western end of the present structure has been fixed at 1765, but Benjamin Hawley notes in his diary (6, 13, 1763) that in the afternoon he " went to the Raising of ye meeting-house." He taught school near by at the time. The house was used as a hospital during the Revolution, as already stated. In 1818 it was enlarged to accommodate the Monthly Meeting. The western wall of the graveyard bears date 1769 in two or more places. A new house has been built by the Orthodox branch of the society.

NEWTOWN MEETING.

At Haverford Monthly Meeting, 11, 14, 1696: " William Lewis and some other friends having proposed to this meeting to settle a meeting at Newtown, they are left to their freedom therein." Afterwards Thomas Jones was ordered " to acquaint friends of Chester Meeting that the meeting lately settled at Newton is done Wth ye consent of this meeting, in order to have their approbation therein."

At Chester Quarterly Meeting, 3, 12, 1701 :

"This meeting being dissatisfyed that a meeting is sett up at Newtowne without the approbation of this Quarterly meeting, the meeting therefore orders John Blunston & Walter ffaucet to go to Haver-ford months meeting and request them that the said meeting be not Continued without the approbation of this Qrly meeting."

The subject was taken to the Yearly Meeting, which decided that the meeting should remain as it was, but that " for the future ye said Welsh friends may set up no meeting further Whin the said county of Chester without ye approbation" of Chester Quarterly Meeting.

At Chester Mo. Mtg., 1, 25, 1706.-" William Lewis of Newtown appeared att this meeting with Daniel Williamson signifying in the behalfe of their meeting their desier of being joyned to our monthly and quarterly meeting : Ordered that Caleb Pusey and Joseph Baker do attend their next monthly meeting to signiefie our willingness if they consent to it."

2, 29, 1706.-" Caleb Pusey and .Joseph Baker makes Report to this meeting that they have been att Haverford monthly meeting Aecording to the order of the Last Monthly Meeting to show our Willingness & to know theirs in Joyning friends of Newtowne meeting to our monthly and Quarterly Meeting and that the friends of Haverford Refers it to farther consideration."

At Quarterly Meeting at Providence, 6, 5, 1706 :

"Agreed between Philadelphia Qrlly Meeting & this that Newtowne friends shall for the future belong to Chester Monthly Meeting and to this Qrlly Meeting."

At Mo. Mtg., 6, 26, 1706.-" This meeting Received a General' Certificate from Minion monthly meeting Recomending to the Care of our Monthly Meeting Those Particulars following,-William Lewis, Senn, Lewis Lewis, Evan Lewis, William Lewis, Riee Howell, William Bevan, William Thomas as members of Newtown meeting with Recomendation for Peter Thomas."

5, 28, 1707.-" Newtown meeting desireth that their meeting now kept att Lewis Lewis. may be held att Evan Lewiss which this meeting agrees to and that the friends appointed to attend the Quarterly meeting move itt there for their approbation."

At Mo. Mtg., 8, 30, I710.-" Newtown meeting Laid before this meeting their Intentions of building a meeting house by friends burial yard in Newtown which this meetting approves of and Requests the approbation of the Quarterly meeting."

8, 29, 1711.-" They also signifie that their meeting house is neare finished and Desire that their meeting may be Removed from Evan Lewis' to the meeting house which this meeting approves of, and in order thereunto this meeting think fitt to Lay it before the Quarterly meeting for their approbation."

GOSHEN MEETING.

At Quarterly Meeting, 12, 2, 1701.-" Some ffriends dwelling at Goshen makeing application to this meeting for to have a meeting for

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS - 235

worship setteled amongst them. This meeting Considering thereof thinks fitt to refer it to the next Qrtly meeting it being the first proposall of it & by reason of a great flood but few friends appeared."

3, 4, 1702.-" The friends dwelling at Goshen Continuing their application to this meeting that they may have a meeting of worship setteled amongst them, This meeting taking the matter into Consideration thinks fitt that they may have a meeting every other first day there at ye house of Griffith Owen, the first meeting to be ye next first day, and this meeting orders them to belong to Chester months meeting."

6, 2, 1703.-Goshen Friends requested liberty from the Quarterly Meeting to make some change in their meeting, but were advised first to agree among themselves, and then lay it before Chester Monthly Meeting.

Chester Monthly Meeiing, 6, 30, 1703.-" Att the request of freinds from goshen this meeting doos agree and appoint yt there be a meeting of Worship the Last first day of tenth month & first fourth and seventh months at ye house of Thomas Jones and on every first day of ye week besids throughout ye yeare att goshen meeting house wheare allco is apoynted that ye weekly meeting be cept Every sixth day of ye week if ye quarterly meeting approve of ye saline."

At Quarterly Meeting, 9, 1, 1703.-" Chester month's meeting being called, the frds appointed to attend this meeting signifie that ye friends of Goshen have aequainted ym that they have agreed Conserning the setteling of a meeting there, To be kept every first day at the meeting house except ye Last first day in every 10th 1st 4th & 7th months at which times they have agreed that it shall be kept at David Jones's at Whiteland in the great Valley : And also a week days meeting every sixt day at the meeting house at Goshen, to all which their sd months meeting did acquiesce with, which this Quarterly meeting after a due Consideration thereof do also approve off untill further order."

At Chester Monthly Meeting, 1, 27, 1704.-" Ellis David and Cadwalader Ellis Informed this meeting that David Jones helonging to Goshen meeting some time since did unhappily Conive or Give way to his servant to worke in his Team some of his neighbours Creatures without their Consent, and desired the advice of this meeting Conserning this matter, and this meeting having Considered the saime Concludeth thereupon, first, that the meeting now kept at David Jones's house if the Quarterly meeting approve of itt bee for time to come keept att Goshen ; secondly, that the sd David Jones do eondemn the sd action by a paper under his hand to bee brought to the next monthly meeeting, and Lastly, that hee make Reasonable satisfaction to the owners of the sd Creatures."

At Quarterly Meeting, 3, 1, 1704.-" Chester Months Meeting being called, Bartholomew Coppock, Randall Vernon & Caleb Pusey appeared & Informed this meeting that it was the sence of their monthly meeting, for some reasons now offered, that the first days meeting formerly ordered to be kept at David Jones's house in ye great valley near Goshen should be kept for the future at the house of Robert Williams as formerly untill further order; which this meeting doth acquiesce with."

At Chester Monthly Meeting, 9, 25, 1706.-"Goshan meeting Proposseth to this meeting the Building a meeting house and grave yard near Edgmont Road it is Left to the Consideration of the next monthly meeting."

8, 27, 1707.--" Friends of Goshen meeting Layd before this meeting their Intention of Building a meeting-house near Robert Williams by the buriall Ground, which this meeting hath nothing to objeet against, But orders friends appointed to attend ye Quarterly meeting do move itt there for their Concurrence, and they further Desire that their meeting may be kept once in a month att White Land which this meeting assents to, and that itt bee Layd before the Quarterly meeting accordingly."

The subject was continued under consideration for some months, but the Quarterly Meeting decided, 12, 2, 1707, that the meeting-house should be built at the burial ground near Robert Williams', and that a meeting for worship should be held once in six weeks at the house of James Thomas, in the Great Valley, beginning in the month following. The new meeting-house was ready for occupancy 8, 31, 1709, and permission given for the meeting, then held at Robert Williams', to be removed thereto, and held on the First and Sixth days of the week.

At Chester Mo. Mtg., 5, 30, 1716.--" The Representatives of Goshcn meeting Requests that the six weeks meetting kept att James Thomas be laid aside att present and setled att Goshen and Youghland untill further order which this meeting thinks well of and Requests the approbation of the Qnarterly meetting."

This was approved by the Quarterly Meeting in the following month.

James Thomas, at whose house the valley meeting was held, was a nephew of David Jones. It was in what is now East Whiteland, but had no connection with the present Whiteland Meeting. In 1736 a new meeting-house was erected in place of the former one, and remained until a few years since, when it was torn down and rebuilt on the same site. Among the early members of this meeting were Robert Williams, Ellis David, Cadwalader Ellis, David Jones, James Thomas, Thomas Garrett, William Garrett, George Ashbridge, John Cadwalader, Edward Kinnison, Isaac Malin, David Davis, John Haines, and Isaac Haines.

EAST NOTTINGHAM MEETING.

At Concord Mo. Mtg , 2 mo. 9, 1705.-" Two friends of Notingham desiering on the behalf of the Rest A first dayes meeting att the house of William Brown and A fourth dayes meeting once in A month, to which this meeting doth aqueese, Leaving it to the next quarterly meeting for their Approbation."

At Quarterly Meeting, 3 mo. 7, 1705.-" Chichester monthly meeting being called the fr'ds appointed to attend aquaint this meeting that ye fr'ds settling at Nottingham desier a meeting of Worship every first day at William Browne's house, & once a month on the fift day before Chichester months meeting; which this Quarterly meeting approves off untill further order."

At Mo Mtg., 3, 13, 1706.-" Robert Pyle and George Pearce is Appointed to goe down to Notingham and take with them the order of the Quarterly meeting for the setling of A meeting there, and also the severall heads out of the book of disciplin, so farr as may suit their cercomstances in order for setling A preparative meeting and the carrying on of Church government Among them According to the good order of truth and in order thereunto this meeting appoints Will Brown and John Churchman, Katherin Brown and Mary Bales [Beal] to be overseers of the said meeting untill farther order, first Receiving a certificate from Chester monthly meeting on the behalf of Andrew Job and John Churchman and their families, and make Report thereof to the next monthly meeting."

At Quarterly Mtg., 3 mo. 2, 1709.-" The months meeting of Chichester moves to this meeting yt whereas the meeting of worship that hath to this time been kept at the house of William Browne in Nottingham, may for the future be kept at the new meeting-house there bnilt for that end & purpose, every weekly first & fift days, wch this meeting approves off untill further order."

John Beal and Robert Dutton were appointed overseers, 1, 13, 1709-10, and were succeeded by William Brown, Sr., and James King, 2, 14, 1712. The majority of the settlers at Nottingham were from Concord Monthly Meeting for which reason the new meeting was considered a branch thereof, and this continued until 1715.

4, 13, 1715.-" Nottingham ffriends renewed their former request that they might be joined to the monthly meeting of New-work & Laid down these reasons,-that the sd meeting being much nearer & to be come at with less difficulty, & supposing they may be of more service one to another than they are or can be to this meeting; & oft when they have past hy that meeting to come to this it has been with Reluctance, being all one People and deeming that their proper place."

After some consideration their request was deemed reasonable, and referred to the Quarterly Meeting, which, on the

236 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1st of 6th month, 1715, sanctioned the proposed change. The meeting-house, built in 1708-9, was replaced by one of brick in 1724. John Churchman, in his journal, says that the latter was destroyed by fire, and that the meetings were held in a private house in the winter of 1748. When rebuilt a stone addition was made to the brick, but this structure, in 1810, was also burned. In 1811 the present building was erected, and although one-half stone, has always borne the appellation of the " Brick Meeting." The title to the land was granted by Penn, but on the settlement of the line the property fell into Maryland. This was formerly a large and influential meeting, and among the members at various times were several prominent ministers in the society.

HOWELL JAMES' MEETING.

In 1709 the " ffriends about ye Iron Hills," near Elk River, were allowed to have a meeting once a month at the house of Howell James. In 1714 it was allowed to be held every First-day, but in 1716, after the death of Howell James, it was discontinued.

KENNET MEETING.

Samuel Smith, in his history of the meetings, says that in 1707

“Vincent Caldwell, Thomas Wickersham, Joel Bailey, Thomas Hope, Guyan Miller, and others, being settled in Rennet and the east end of Marlborough, had liberty to keep a meeting for worship sometimes in private houses. In the year 1710 a piece of land was purchased and a meeting-house built, which was enlarged in 1719; in 1731 it was further enlarged."

Some of the early records are rather indefinite, but we quote from the minutes of Newark (now Kennet) Monthly Meeting, as follows :

7, 30, 1709.-" The request of ffriends belonging to Malsbrough meeting is to this meeting yt it would grant yt they may for this winter season have their meetings kept there every first & fourth day, to wch request this meeting Condescends."

9, 5, 1709.-" Its ye request of this meeting yt our meetings be kept every first and fourth day at ye Center at Malsbrough and at Newark this winter season."

11, 6, 1710-11.-" The Request of Mallbrough ffrds to have ye meetings up there to be Considered on till ye next meeting."

At Chester Quarterly Meeting, 3, 7, 1711 :

"The monthly meeting of Newark Requesteth that ffriends of Malborough 86 thereabouts may meet Every first & fourth days at Kennet meeting house; and also that frinds of Newark meet two at the Center first & fourth days, & those of ye Center to meet with them of Newark one, which this meeting approves of till further order."

6, 5, 1717.-" A request from Newark monthly meeting for advice for settling a place to Build a new meeting house for Kennett this meeting appoints Thomas Bradshaw, Josiah ffearn, William Lewis, Aaron James; Henry Obourn, & John Bezer to hear and advise with the said friends and make Report thereof to the next Quarterly meeting."

9, 11, 1717.-" The ffriends that wear appointed to seek & settle a suitable place in Kennett to Build a meeting house upon reports that that part of Vincent Caldwell's Land that Lyes betwixt the two roads that goes to Notingham and into the woods seems to them most Proper, but some of the friends of that meeting Request another Quarter's time for Consideration, where they may settle the same to their Generall satisfaction."

12, 10, 1717.-" According to our Last meetings allowing Kennett friends Time for Consideration, where they might settle a meeting house to their Generall Satisfaction, they at this meeting Reports That the meeting is to be Continued at Kennett meeting house."

A Mo. Mtg., 10, 2, 1721.-" The Deed of Kennett Meeting House being in the possession of Gayen Miller, and the Bond securing the same for the service of the people called Quakers left in the hands of William Lewis."

NEW GARDEN MEETING.

At Chester Quarterly Meeting :

12, 2, 1712.-" Newark monthly meeting requests that there may be a first & fifth Days meeting settled. at John Miller's. This meeting, considering thereof, thinks fitt to Refer the further Consideration thereof to the next Quarterly meeting."

3, 4, 1713.-" This meeting, Considering further of settleing a meeting at or nere John Miller's, Do allow that a first and fifth Dayes meeting be kept at John Miller's Dwelling House for this Ensuing Quarter, or untill further order, and the said meeting to Belong to Kennet Preparative meeting for the Present."

6, 3, 1713.-" Also the said meeting Requests that the ffriends of the meeting kept at John Miller's may have Liberty to Build a meeting house near Michel Lightfoot's, which this meeting, takeing into Consideration, do allow the same ffriends of that meeting so to do, and not to Exceed half a mile from the said Michel's."

At Newark Monthly Meeting, 10, 3, 1715 :

"ffriends belonging to Newgardin first day's meeting, having requested of this meeting the Liberty of houlding a preparitive meeting at the meeting house of Newgarden, this meeting aproves their Request and grants them the Liberty of houlding such a preparitive meeting.'

In 1743 the south end of the present brick house was erected in the room of the former log one. The north end was added about the year 1790.

The Orthodox Friends erected a new brick meetinghouse a short distance south of the old one, and on the opposite side of the road.

UWCHLAN MEETING.

At Chester Monthly Meeting :

2, 28, 1712.-" The Representatives of Goshen meeting moved to this meeting the Request of several friends that Lives at a Place Called Youehland to have a meeting at the house of John Cadwalleders and in order that friends may. receive some further satisfaction whether it may be Convenient to settle a meeting there this meeting appoints Jacob Simcock and Ephraim Jackson to visit them in order thereto and to make report to the next monthly meeting."

3, 26, 1712.-" The two friends appointed the Last meeting to visit some friends at and about John Cadwalleders Reports that they hadd a meeting there and friends finds some Incouragement to answer their Request of haveing ft meeting settled there so the Consideration thereof is Left to the next monthly meeting."

4, 30, 1712.-" The friends of Youchlands Request is Continued untill the next meeting."    .

5, 28, 1712.-" This meeting haveing taken into Consideration the friends Request of haveing a meeting settled at John Cadwallader's above the Great valley every first and fifth dayes, Except when. the meeting is kept at James Thomas's, which this meeting is satisfied with, orders that a Request be carried to the Quarterly meeting for there approbation of it; they meeting once in six weeks with the Great Valley friends att James Thomases and to Continue of Goshen Preparative meeting att the Present."

2, 26, 1714.-"Goshen Meeting Proposeth that friends of Youghland be a, preparative meetting of themselves which this meeting is consenting to and Requests the mind of the Quarterly meetting therein."

Uwchlan Meeting began to send representatives to the Monthly Meeting in the 8th month, 1716, but the name for some time is written " Youghland." The following persons were representatives between 1716 and 1720 : Joseph Helsby, James Pugh, Thomas. John, Thomas Fell, Hugh Davis, Isaac Vernon, Joseph Phipps, Robert Benson, Griffith John, Peter Taylor, Samuel John, Cadwalader Jones, Thomas Davies, Thomas James, John. Cadwalader, David Cadwalader, Samuel Phipps.

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS - 237

John Cadwalader, of " Ywchlan;" by deed of June 2, 1715, purchased from David Lloyd, of Chester, 250 acres, and on Jan. 16, 1715-6, sold to Thomas Fell " All that messuage or Tenement and Plantacôn where ye sd John Cadwalader Dwells . . . Excepting out of these presents a piece of Ground on ye side of the King's Road which ye sd John Cadwalader allotted for a burying-place, and to set a meeting-house, on for ye use of ye people called Quakers." James Pugh and Samuel John were appointed overseers of the meeting, 8, 29, 1716. The present meeting-house was built in 1756, but was remodeled a few years since. Isaac Lewis and David Owen each left a small legacy, in 1771, towards walling the graveyard, and the work was commenced on the side next the road in the following year. At the same time Thomas Evans offered some ground to enlarge the graveyard, and Joseph Phipps devised £10 for repairs and improvements thereon. James Speary next bequeathed £60 for the use of walling the ground, which appears to have been completed in 1775, under the direction of Thomas Evans. Other legacies are subsequently mentioned in the records, from which the following is also taken :

1, 8, 1778.—" A few Days ago the Key of the Meeting-house at Uwchlan was demanded by some of the Physicians to the continental Army in order to convert the same into an Hospital for their sick Soldiers; the Friend who had the Care of the House and Key refusing to deliver it, forcible Entry was made into the House and Stables and as there is no Prospect of enjoying the House peaceably from next First day it is agreed that Uwchlan Friends hold their meetings at the House of our Friend George Thomas in the Great Valley and that our preparative and monthly meetings be held at Nantmeal on the usual Days till further Order."

The Monthly Meeting was held at Nantmeal, 8, 6, 1778, but a month later it was again held at Uwchlan.

VALLEY MEETING.

This meeting, in Tredyffrin, was a branch of Haverford Monthly Meeting, from the records of which, as quoted by Dr. Smith, we find that in 1714

"friends inhabiting about Perguaminy and this side of Schulkill in ye valley being, desirous yt a meeting might be allowed ym every other me, to be & begin at Lewis Walker's house the first in 2nd me next and thence every other month, att Joseph Richardsons house until ye 9th mo. next."

In 1731, Haverford Monthly Meeting, after having appointed a committee to aid the Valley. Friends in fixing on a site for a meeting-house, at length leaves them at their liberty to build the said house " at the Grave Yard near Lewis Walker's Deed, which was left by the Said Lewis by his last will for that purpose." A temporary meeting was from time to time authorized by Haverford Meeting to be held at Richard Harrisson's school-house, but it does not appear that it ever grew into a regular meeting.

LONDONGROVE MEETING.

At Chester Quarterly Meeting :

12, 7, 1714.—" Newark monthly meeting Laid before this meeting a request of some ffriends belonging to their meeting that a meeting be settled at the House of John Smith In Marlborough one first Day in Eery month and Every Sixt Day for half a year which Request this meeting orders to be put in practice until! further order."

12, 10, 1717." Marlborough friends Request that they may have a meeting Every sixth Day of the week. Except the week on which their preparative meeting is on at Newgarden which This meeting allowes of till further order."

3, 11, 1724.—" The friends of Marlborough meeting (with the consent of newgarden Monthly Meeting) requests of this meeting that they may have liberty to build a meeting house on the Corner of Londongrove township Joining to Marlborough in order to keep a meeting there every first day of the week as also on week days once every week except that week on which the preparative meeting is at Newgarden this meeting after taking it into their solid consideration do approve thereof and grant the said friends their request."

In 1743 a larger house was erected, and replaced by the present one in 1818, it being then enlarged for the accom modation of the Quarterly Meeting. The Orthodox Friends have 'erected a new house a short distance southward, but still use the old building at the times of Quarterly Meetings.

The Pusey, Pennock, Swayne, Lamborn, Baily, Speak_ man, and Hayes families were prominent among the early members of the meeting.

CALN MEETING.

At Concord Monthly Meeting :

1, 14, 171 4-5.—" Application being made to this meeting by some friends in the valley for a meeting to be settled there which is referred to the next meeting for consideration."

2, 11, 1715.—" The friends in the Valley renewed their request for a meeting to be settled there which request is referred for further consideration."

2, 9, 1716.—"ffriends in the valley having continued their request in order for the settling a Hirst days meeting amongst them this meeting gives them their liberty to proceed to the Qrly Meeting for their approbation."

6, 13, 1716.—" this meeting in perseuent to ye advise of ye Last Quarterly meeting doth settle a preparative meeting at Caine in ye Valey and to be keept on ye first day before our Monthly Meeting : also this meeting advises them to nominate or appoint overseers for the Sarvis of Truth and make report of them to ye next monthly meeting."

238 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

7, 10, 1716.—" Caine meeting mak report to this meeting that they have appointed Thomas Peirson and William Cloude to be overseers for their meeting which this meeting doth approve of."

8, 8, 1717.—" Elizabeth Swaffer and Susanna. Mendenhall are chosen overseers of Caine meeting."

At Quarterly Meeting:

6, 6, 1716.—" The Request of the ffriends of the Inhabitance of Caine for a first-Days meeting to be settled amongst them, being considered it is the sence of this meeting that they may keep a first days meeting there & have Liberty to build a meeting house on the Land of John Mendinhall according to the friends Proposall."

At Concord Monthly Meeting :

8, 7, 1717.—John Mendenhall, Junr, is appointed overseer for Caine in room of Wm. Cloude who desires to be excused.

1, 7, 1725-6.--" This meeting appoints Benj. Mendenhall, Henry Oborn, and William Brinton to go and visitt friends of Caine meeting in order to assiste them in setling of a place to set their meeting-house on according to there request."

2, 4, 1726.—" those friends appointed to goe to Calne reports that they have Left ye mater to further consideration."

4, 6, 1726.—" To Caine preparitive meeting : friends, this meeting haveing eonsidered your request of moving your meeting house hiere up the valley it is the mind of this meeting that you consider a little longer of it and get the unanamous consent of all that are like to belong to that meeting, and bring their names to this meeting when you are so agreed."

7, 5, 1726.—" this meeting appoints Robert Pyle, Benj. Mendenhall, Henry Oborn, Moses Key, Abraham Widdos, and Benj. Mendenhall, Jur, to appoint a time and goe to the frieuds of Caine meeting in order to assist them in the setling of a place to set their meeting house on and make report to the next meeting."

8, 3, 1726.—"foure of those friends appointed to goe and assist the friends of Caine meeting reports they have been and finds the greater part of them most inclinable to build their meeting house upon the further side of ye valley upon ye mounten; therefore this meeting Leves them to there Liberty to purchous a pice of Ground according as they have proposed and to Lay ye same before ye Quarterly meeting for their approbation."

12, 6, 1726-7.—" Caine meeting proposeth fore friends for trustees for their meeting house and ground viz. Tho. Parks, Aaron Mendenhall, Tho. Eldrech, and Edward Towson."

At Bradford Monthly Meeting :

8, 19, 1743.—" William Pim acquaints this meeting that some years agoe John Mendenhall sold an acre of Land to Caln meeting to Build a meeting house upon & to bury their dead in, which he afterwards by an Instrument in writing vested in four trustees for the said use : also that ffriends of said meeting having since procured more land Built a meeting house and Buryet.h their, in a more eonvenient place, and are willing with the consent of this meeting and the surviving trustees to sell the said acre of Land to him the said William Pim, he making a Deed of the burying ground to Trustees for the use of ffriends forever ; and it appearing that the said meeting & the two surviving trustees are Consenting thereunto, now this meeting taking the same into Consideration are also Consenting thereunto, and appoints Aaron Mendenhall, Thomas Parke, & Phinehas Lewis Trustees to Receive the said Deed & to Deliver up the former one to to the said William Pim."

Jan. 18, 1759, Richard Pike, then of Cork, Ireland, who owned 1528 acres in Caln township, conveyed to Robert Miller and Thomas Parke, of East Caln, for the use of Friends, a lot of ground on which a meeting-house had been built with his consent. The deed shows that this lot was 128 perches within the lines of Pike's land, but whether this was the second or a third location has not been determined. Thomas Stalker, in 1762, purchased 232 acres adjoining the meeting-house, and from this, at a later date, an addition was made to the surrounding grounds. In 1801 the house was enlarged to accommodate the new Quarterly Meeting of Caln.

NEW GARDEN MONTHLY MEETING.

This was formed in 1718 by the division of Newark Monthly Meeting, and included the meetings of New Garden, Nottingham, and Londongrove. The first meeting was held 5, 12, 1718. It was held sometimes at Nottingham till 1729, and afterwards alternated to Londongrove

until 1792.

BRADFORD MEETING.

In 1716 application was made by some Friends in the forks of Brandywine for liberty to have a meeting during the winter season near William Marshall's, but it was not then granted.

At Chester Quarterly Meeting :

9, 9, 1719.—" Newark monthly meeting Layd before this meeting the Request of the friends in the fforks of Brandywine of having a meeting for worship Every other first Day and Every other fifth Day which sd Request this meeting Doth allow Dureing the winter season."

3, 14, 1722.—" Newark monthly meeting acquaints this meeting that the friends in the forks of Brandywine request the priviledge of having their meetings in the summer time as they have had them in the winter which request this meeting grants till farther order."

3, 10, 1725.—" Newark monthly meeting lays before this meeting that the friends of the forks of Brandywine request to have a meeting every first day and fift day the preparative meeting week excepted which this meeting after Consideration thereof allows of till farther order."

In 1726 they were allowed to hold a Preparative Meeting. The first meeting-house is said to have been on or near the northeast corner of the land of Abraham Marshall, now of Thomas Pennypacker. The present site was purchased from Edward Clayton, by deed of 10th month 10, 1729, the trustees being Abraham Marshall, Richard Woodward, Peter Collins, and Richard Buffington. Here a house was built in what is now the graveyard, and stood until 1765. The first house, which was of frame or logs, was moved up from the Marshall farm, and used for many years as a stable. A variety of testimony fixes the date of erection of the present meeting house in 1765. On the 2d of 3d month, 1788, the roof caught fire from a defective stovepipe or flue, on a First-day morning, before the hour for gathering, and the upper part of the structure was destroyed. Snow was thrown in at doors and windows, and the floor thereby saved, but it shows the marks of fire to this day. It was repaired at once by William Woodward for £115. The graveyard was walled by Joseph Cope, about 1774, at a cost of £156.

WEST NOTTINGHAM MEETING.

At Chester Quarterly Meeting :

3, 11, 1719.—" Newgarden monthly meeting acquaints this meeting that our ffriends of Notingham Desires to have a meeting at the house of James King, once Every Week on a week day, only that week that the Preparative meeting is at Notingham, as also one first day of the week in the month, which this meeting allows of till further order."

9, 11, 723.—" The friends of the west end of Nottingham having had Liberty to keep a meeting at the house of James King every first first day in every month now desires to have a meeting keept also every third first day in every month for this winter season, which Newgarden monthly meeting is satisfied with, to whom this meeting gives Liberty to hold their meeting accordingly till further order."

6, 10, 1724.—" The friends of the west end of Notingham request, with the consent of Newgarden Monthly Meeting to have a meeting every other first day at the house of James Kings, which this meeting allows of till farther order."

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS - 239

6, 8, 1726.-"Newgarden monthly meeting lays before this meeting the request of friends of West Notingham to have Liberty to build a meeting-house for their eonvenience, which this meeting after Consideration thereof do allow the said Friends their request."

6, 14, 1727.-"Newgarden Monthly Meeting on the behalf of the friends of the west end of Nottingham, request to have Liberty to keep meetings every first day in the new meeting-house, which after consideration thereof was allowed till further order."

In 1730 this was made a Preparative Meeting. The present brick house is said to have been built in 1811. It is on the Maryland side of the line.

GOSHEN MONTHLY MEETING.

Goshen Monthly Meeting was set apart from Chester Monthly Meeting in 1722, the first meeting being held 2d month 6th. At that time it included the particular meetings of Goshen, Newtown, and Uwchlan, to which Nantmeal and Pikeland were afterwards added by settlement. The meetings were held alternately at Goshen and Newtown for three years, after which it was seldom held at Newtown. In 1736 it was held at Goshen 1st month (March) 15th and 8th month (October) 18th, between which dates it met alternately at Newtown and Uwchlan, which was occasioned by the rebuilding of Goshen meeting-house.

In 1727 the time of meeting was changed from the Sixth day of the first week in each' month to the third Second-day, except on special occasions.

At the close of 1762 the Monthly Meeting was divided, leaving only Goshen and Newtown particular meetings under the original name. To these were added Willistown, Whiteland, and, for a short time, West Chester. In 1801 the place of meeting was changed from Goshen to Willis-town. Since the division of the society in 1827, the Orthodox portion have met at Goshen.

The following were the clerks prior to 1828, with dates of appointment :

Richard Jones, 2, 6, 1722.

Aaron Ashbridge, 9, 21, 1748.

Thomas Massey, 8, 10, 1770.

George Ashbridge, 2, 11, 1774.

Joshua Ashbridge, 5, 10, 1782.

Enos Thomas, 10, 9, 1795.

Abraham Pratt, 11, 6, 1801.

Jeffrey Smedley, 9, 11, 1807.

Elijah Lewis, 11, 6, 1812.

George Malin, 10, 28, 1818.

George Thomas, 10, 29, 1823.

George Malin, 12, 1, 1824.

Isaac Thomas, 12, 28, 1825.

Mary Ashbridge, 2, 6, 1722.

Jane Davies, 5, 15, 1728.

Elizabeth Ashbridge, 7, 14, 1747.

Hannah Ashbridge, 4, 16, 1753.

Phehe Trimble, 7, 17, 1758.

Hannah Hoopes, 5, 18, 1759.

Hannah Garrett, 11, 5, 1779.

Lydia Malin, 10, 7, 1791.

Amy Hoopes, 8, 5, 1796.

Rachel Malin, 2, 6, 1801.

Mary Hall, 12, 5, 1806.

Esther Garrett, 2, 2, 1814.

Mary Hall, 12, 29, 1819.

Jane Malin, 12, 27, 1820.

SADSBURY MEETING.

Samuel Smith says that in 1724 Samuel Miller and Andrew Moore made application, on behalf of themselves and their friends settled about Sadsbury, for liberty to build a meeting-house, which being granted by the Quarterly Meeting, they built one in 1725, which goes by the name of Sadsbury.

In 1722 a committee appointed by Chester Quarterly Meeting visited Friends of Conestoga and Octorara, and reported that they inclined to meet together. In 1723 it was reported that at Octorara were some " of a contentious spirit, and not worthy to be esteemed of our society." In the latter part of 1723 " meetings" are mentioned at both places, but they were probably of an informal character. 9th month 9, 1724, things at Octorara are reported hopeful, and in the 12th month they desire a committee to help fix on a site for a meeting-house. The committee failed to settle the question, but on 9th month 8, 1725,

"This meeting being informed that those friends of Sadsbury have agreed amongst themselves of a place to Build a meeting-house on, which this meeting approves of."

The relation of the following letter to this subject is not entirely clear if the meeting-house was built in 1725:

" FFRIEND JOHN TAYLOR.*

"I have just now wrote to thee in behalf of an honest friend (Isaac Jaekson) and am now further to acquaint thee with another applieation, made to me by one Simon Hadly, who represents that several friends heing seated near that place called the Gap, in Lancaster County; they hope in a little time to establish a meeting there, in order to which they desire some vacant Land near that place may be secured for two or three friends that would shortly come and settle it. I shall not undertake here to give thee any description of the place hut shall leave that to Simon himself, and shall only recommend the Request to thee as fitt to be encouraged. I am

"Thy real friend,

"J. LOGAN.

" Philada., 23, 7, 1729."

The old Sadsbury meeting-house is on the edge of Lancaster County, but many of the members resided in Chester County.

LAMPETER MEETING,

at first called Leacock, was established at Hattill Varman's house, in Leacock, in 1732. In 1749 a new location was found in Lampeter township, to which the meeting was removed.

NOTTINGHAM MONTHLY MEETING.

This was established by the Quarterly Meeting held 3, 11, 1730, by division of New Garden Monthly Meeting, and they agreed to hold their meetings on the third Seventh-day of each month.

HOCKESSIN MEETING.

At Newark Monthly Meeting :

3, 2, 1730.-"Newark preparitive meeting signified that the ffriends of Mill Creek Hundred in Newcastle County requests to have a week days meeting settled amongest them which is Left to the next moth meeting for consideration and this meeting appoints Abraham Marshall Thomas Wickersham, Peter Collings, and Ellis Lewis to goe and give them a vissit and make report of their sence concearning the above sd request to our next monthly meeting."

4, 6, 1730.-" The ffriends appointed to give the ffriends of Mill Creek Hundred a visit in relation to settle a week day meeting amongest them gives their sence in favor of their request with which this meeting is fulley sattisfied that we grant them the Liberty to keep a meeting at the house of William Cox upon the sixth day of the week Every week untill further order."

2, 30, 1737.-" Newark preparitive meeting offers to the consideration of this meeting that Hocesion ffrds Desiers to have a meeting of worship settled amongest them on the first day and week day which this meeting aquaceseth with and offers it to the Quarterly Meeting for approbation of said meeting with Desires that theire said request may be granted."

The name of Hockessin was given to this meeting, that being the name of an Indian town formerly near the place. Among the early members were Henry Dixon, John Baldwin, John Dixon, and William Cox. In 1738 a meeting-

* John Taylor, in his account-book, charges Caleb Pierce and John Walter for a deed for Sadsbury meeting-house land, Dec. 17, 1729.

240 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

house was built, and enlarged in 1745. It is in Mill Creek Hundred, south of Kennet Square.

WILMINGTON MEETING.

At Chester Quarterly Meeting, 12, 13, 1737 :

"Newark Monthly Meeting, on behalf of friends living in or near Willmington do request that this meeting would give the said friends liberty of keeping a meeting for worship on every first and fifth days of the week which this meeting allows till further order."

BRADFORD MONTHLY MEETING.

This was established in 1737, with the two branches of Bradford and Caln, and the first meeting was held 3, 19, 1737. William Pim was appointed clerk ; Richard Woodward elder for Bradford Meeting ; William Pim elder for Cain; Isaac Vernon and John Cope overseers for Bradford ; Aaron Mendenhall and William Pim overseers for Caln Meeting.

This Monthly Meeting alternated between the two meetings, and now possesses fuller records than perhaps any other of equal age.

SADSBURY MONTHLY MEETING.

This was formed by the division of New Garden Monthly Meeting, and comprised the two Preparative Meetings of Sadsbury and Leacock. The first meeting was held 12, 6, 1737-8.

NANTMEAL MEETING.

At Goshen Monthly Meeting, 6, 20, 1739 :

"Some friends living in or near Nantmel Proposes to have a first day & week day meeting Setled in a Convenient Place for friends there-away to meet at therefore friends appoints John Williamson, Hugh Pugh, Robert Benson, Lewis Lewis, Isaac Rains to go up and assist the said friends in that affair."

7, 10, 1739.-" The friends appointed to assist friends at Nantmell & thereaway in Respect of setling a meeting of worship are Continued."

8, 15, 1739.-" The friends appointed to assist friends at Nantmel & thereaway Reports that they met with the said friends upon that account and that the sd friends have not yet agreed upon a Place to keep & settle their meeting therefore their Case is Continued nnder the further consideration of this monthly meeting."

At Quarterly Meeting, 12, 9, 1740 :

"Goshen Monthly Meeting acquaints this meeting that several Friends Inhabitants of Nantmeal and parts adjacient have proposed to have a meeting for worship settled at Nantmeal on the first and fourth days of the week which this meeting after a consideration had thereon do allow the said friends to have and keep meetings for worship as above till further order."

Nantmeal meeting-house is mentioned 8,19, 1741. The following were the successive overseers for this meeting for several years : John Pugh, 1741 ; William Kirk, 1743 ; Samuel John, Jr., William Kirk, John Williams, Thomas Atherton, William Kirk, David Yarnall, and William Kirk, appointed 6, 11, 1762, in plate of David Yarnall, deceased. Simon Meredith was appointed an additional overseer in 1759. The women overseers for the same period were Sarah Kirk, Ann John, Jr., Mary Kirk, Mary Roberts, Sibilla Kirk.

In 1781 a Preparative Meeting was established here 8, 7, 1777, in answer to the second annual query, report was made of " One new Meeting house built at Nantmeal near the old one." In 1795 the members were excused from their full proportion of contributions, on account of having had their meeting-house-burned. For many years past the house has ceased to be used for religious purposes, and of late has been a harbor for disreputable characters. Measures are now being taken to put the property, including the graveyard, in repair, and to so preserve it.

WILMINGTON MONTHLY MEETING

was established in 1750 by division of Newark (now Kennet) Monthly Meeting.

WEST CALN MEETING.

At Chester Quarterly Meeting, 5, 10, 1756 :

"Bradford monthly meeting concurring with West Caln particular meeting requests that the said particular meeting may be established on record, They having by leave of the said me. meeting held meetings for worship at West Caln several years and are now preparing to build a meeting house: Therefore Richard Jones, The.. Goodwin, Thomas Downing, Willi. Trimble, John Pierce & Benjamin.Cock are appointed to visit the said meeting and inform themselves whether they seem likely to keep it up with reputation to Truth, and make report thereof to our next Quarterly meeting."

This committee reported, 8, 9, 1756, that they had met at West Caln " meeting-house," and thought the meeting. should be continued ; whereupon it was established.

WESTERN QUARTERLY MEETING.

In the year 1758, Chester Quarterly Meeting had grown very large, and included the Monthly Meetings of Chester, Goshen, Darby, Concord, Newark, Wilmington, New Garden, Nottingham, Bradford, Sadsbury, Duck Creek, Hopewell, Fairfax, and Warrington. The business being too extensive to be dispatched in a reasonable time, it was concluded to divide, and the subject was therefore laid before the Yearly Meeting, which approved thereof. The Monthly Meetings of Chester, Goshen, Darby, Concord, and Wilmington continued to meet under the old name, while the others formed what was styled the " Western Quarterly Meeting," with Londongrove as the place of meeting. The first meeting was held 11, 20, 1758.

PIKELAND MEETING.

At Goshen Monthly Meeting, 1, 16, 1758 :

"Application is made by Uwchlan meeting setting forth that a considerable number of ads ffamilies situate on the lower end of Pikeland & thereaways are very remote from their or any other of ffriends meetings, and that the said ffriends are unanimously desirous of having a meeting established amongst them. Therefore, we do appoint Richard Jones, Thomas Goodwin, Thomas Massey, Amos Yarnall, Cadwalader Jones, Thomas Lightfoot, & Aaron Ashbridge, to pay those' ffriends a visit, & endeavour to inform themselves whether the proposal be likely to be of advantage to the cause of Truth and reputation of the Society, & report of their service to next meeting."

2, 20, 1758.---" The ffrds apps to visit ffriends on the lower end of Pikeland &c., are continucd."

4, 17, 1758.-" The ffrds apps to visit Pikeland ffriends report that they have visited friends on the lower end of Pikeland, &c., according to order, and do find that there are Eleven families of ffriends who live remote from any meeting, & seem unanimous in desiring the privilege of having a meeting Established among them, they having also agreed upon a spot of Ground which we viewed & think may well answer the purpose when a Title for it can be procured, which they are endeavouring for. We are in hopes that if their request be granted it may be of advantage in a religious sense, as it will greatly ease them on account of travelling. Which being considered by this meeting it is concluded to be laid before onr next Quarterly Meeting for their approbation."

William Lewis, Amos Davis, James Hancock, Elizabeth Lewis, and Jane Coates were overseers of this meeting

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS - 241

prior to 1762. In 1772 several Friends had removed from the neighborhood, and the meeting was small, and it seemed doubtful whether they could continue to hold one. Joseph Starr, John Meredith, William Cooper, and Jonathan Rogers were overseers from 1775 to 1788. In 1802 a Preparative Meeting was established, and a new house erected for its accommodation.

UWCHLAN MONTHLY MEETING.

This was formed by the division of Goshen Monthly Meeting, and included the meetings of Uwchlan, Nantmeal, and Pikeland. The first meeting was held 1, 5, 1763, at Uwchlan meeting-house. John Milhouse was appointed clerk of the men's meeting, and Mercy Baldwin of the women's.

STANTON MEETING,

in New Castle Co., Del., was first held at the house of Hannah Lewden, at Christiana Bridge, about 1772.

WILLISTOWN MEETING.

Benjamin Hibberd and Mary Garrett were married at an appointed meeting in Willistown, 10, 19, 1769, but there is no further evidence of a meeting held there so early. At Goshen Monthly Meeting, 4, 9, 1784 :

"The ffrds who have usually held a meeting During the winter season at Willistown, now Request, with the approbation of Goshen & Newtown, preparative meetings to have a meeting settled there & to hold a preparative meeting, which is left for further sollid consideration."

10, 8, 1784.-" The Request for having a meeting settled at Willis-town having been for some time before this meeting, & there not appearing sufficient uniting in sentiment for it to Go forward it is Dropt at present."

6, 8, 1787.-" The friends who have usually attended the Willistown meeting Requests to have a meeting settled there, to be held on first and fifth days, except the day before Goshen Mo. meeting which is left under consideration another mo."

7, 6, 1787.-" The Request for having a meeting settled at Willistown coming under weighty consideration, & after much time spent thereon, it is concluded to be laid before our next Quarterly meeting."

10, 5, 1787.-" The Quarterly meeting's committee on the request for having a meeting for worship settled at Willistown attended here & after a sollid conference thereon, the committee proposed having a meeting with the friends who are to constitue sd meeting."

The committee having made a favorable report, the meeting was established by the Quarterly Meeting held 11, 10, 1788, and in 1794 they were allowed to hold a Preparative Meeting. 2, 8, 1799, Report is made that " A new meeting house is built at Willistown, to supply the place of the old one."

DOWNINGTOWN MEETING.

In 1784 a meeting was. allowed to be held on First-day afternoons during the summer, at a school-house at Milltown (or Downingtown, as it was then sometimes called), and this privilege was repeated by Uwchlan Monthly Meeting 1785-89. In 1795 and 1798 similar meetings were held, and in 1800 an earnest effort was made to establish a permanent meeting, but this met with opposition. Its advocates persisted in their efforts, and obtained an indulgence of holding meetings from time to time until 1806, when the meeting was established by the Quarterly Meeting. It was held at first in the school-house which formerly stood back of Clara Downing's, between Uwchlan and Lancaster Ave-

- 31 -

nues. In 1807 ground was purchased, and a meeting-house built.

WEST GROVE MEETING.

The Jacksons, Micheners, Puseys, Prestons, and other families having settled in this neighborhood, a meetinghouse was built, and a meeting indulged therein by New Garden Monthly Meeting in the year 1787. The next year the meeting was regularly established by the Quarterly

Meeting.

FALLOWFIELD MEETING.

The Bakers, Modes, Harlans, Trumans, and others having settled here, had held meetings in the house of George Welsh prior to 1792, by indulgence of New Garden Monthly Meeting, and afterwards by Londongrove. A meeting-house was built in 1794, and the meeting established in 1795.

LONDONGROVE MONTHLY MEETING.

This was established in 1792 by the division of New Garden Monthly Meeting, and at that time contained but the one Preparative Meeting, but this was perhaps the largest one in the county.

CALN QUARTERLY MEETING,

composed of the Monthly Meetings of Bradford, Sadsbury, Uwchlan, and Robeson, was established in 1800, and the first meeting held 8th month 14th. Before this time Bradford and Sadsbury belonged to the Western Quarter, Uwchlan to Concord, and Robeson to Philadelphia.

MARLBOROUGH MEETING.

This sprang from an Indulged Meeting in Richard Barnard's school-house for some time prior to 1801, when a meeting-house was built, and a meeting established as a branch of Kennet Monthly Meeting. Several of the members had belonged to Londongrove, and others to Bradford

Meetings.

DOE RUN MEETING.

In 1805 several Friends living in Londonderry were allowed to hold meetings in a school-house there, and in 1808 a meeting-house was built, and a meeting established as a branch of Fallowfield Meeting.

CENTRE MONTHLY MEETING,

formed by the division of Kennet Monthly Meeting in 1808, was composed of the meetings of Centre and Hockesson, at which places it was held alternately.

WEST CHESTER MEETING.

In 1810 the Friends in this neighborhood proposed the building of a meeting-house, but were discouraged by the Monthly Meetings to which they belonged, and instead thereof were allowed to hold meetings in a Friends' schoolhouse near by in East Bradford. This indulgence was renewed from time to time until 1812, in which year a meeting-house was built in West Chester, though it does not appear to have been occupied until 6th month 20, 1813. After the division in the society the Orthodox Friends held their meetings for a time in the east end of the house of George G. Ashbridge, now of John Rutter. In 1830 they built a meeting-house at the northwest corner of Church and Chestnut Streets, which was opened 12th. month 26,

242 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1830, and is now used as two dwelling-houses. In 1844 they built a neat green-stone house on a lot at the northeast corner of the same streets. In 1868 the original meeting-house on High Street was greatly enlarged to accommodate the Quarterly Meeting and the increased attendance.

EAST SADSBURY MEETING

was established in Sadsbury, near the Lancaster Pike and Buck Run, about 1810. It was probably never very large, and is not now held.

FALLOWFIELD MONTHLY MEETING.

In 1811, Londongrove Monthly Meeting was divided, and the meetings of Fallowfield and Doe Run were made to constitute a Monthly Meeting under the above name. After 1828 the Orthodox members again became members of Londongrove Monthly Meeting.

KENNET SQUARE MEETING.

In 1812 a meeting was indulged at the house of John Phillips, near and to the westward of Kennet Square. In 1814 a meeting-house was built at Kennet Square, and a Meeting established under that name.

BIRMINGHAM MONTHLY MEETING.

This was constituted of the meetings of West Chester and Birmingham, and first held 12th month 7, 1815. These meetings had been branches of Concord Monthly Meeting.

WHITELAND MEETING.

A meeting-house was built in East Whiteland, and a meeting held therein in 1816, being opened in the 11th month of that year. It was not regularly established until 1818. In 1822 a Preparative Meeting was established. The house is recently closed, and the membership transferred to Malvern Meeting.

SCHUYLKILL MEETING.

A school-house in this township, at the " Corner Stores," was opened as a meeting-house in 1818.

NOTTINGHAM QUARTERLY MEETING

was first opened and held at East Nottingham Meeting, 5th month 19, 1819, and was composed of Nottingham, Little Britain, and Deer Creek Monthly Meetings, of which the two former were taken from Western Quarterly Meeting. This is a branch of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.

PENNSGROVE MEETING.

On the request of John Hambleton, Joseph Brown, Nathan Sharpless, and others, New Garden Monthly Meeting allowed them to hold a meeting at Joseph Brown's. It was afterwards held at John Hambleton's, but in 1828 was transferred to the house of Samuel Hadley. In 1833 the meeting-house of Pennsgrove was erected.

CAMBRIDGE MEETING.

This was first held about 1825, but no particulars have been obtained.

LITTLE ELK MEETING.

This was established in 1825, and a meeting-house built the following year. It is the only meeting within our county limits belonging to Baltimore Yearly Meeting.

HOMEVILLE MEETING.

Samuel Gatchell, Asa Walton, Isaac Clendenin, Mahlon Brosius, William Brosius, with their families, and other Friends, obtained leave to hold an Indulged Meeting in a school-house of Asa Walton's, in Coleraine, Lancaster County, in 1828. In 1839 the meeting-house at HoMeville, Chester County, was built, and the meeting established therein.

LONDON BRITAIN MEETING.

In 1834 a number of Friends who had held meetings in a house of Richard Chambers, in White Clay Creek Hundred, purchased a piece of ground near Strickerville, whereon they erected a meeting-house. The Thompson, Chambers, Sharpless, and Passmore families were among the principal members.

MILL CREEK MEETING.

In 1838, James Thompson and thirty-two other Friends were allowed to have an Indulged Meeting at James Thompson's house, in Mill Creek, Del. In 1841 a commodious house was built, and the meeting settled therein as a branch of New Garden Monthly Meeting.

UNIONVILLE MEETING.

This was made up of members of Kennet and London-grove Monthly Meetings, and held under their joint care in a house built about 1845.

ROMANSVILLE MEETING.

After the division of 1827 the Orthodox Friends retained possession of Bradford meeting-house, and the others built on an adjoining lot ; but after some years this property was sold, and about the year 1846 a house was erected near Romansville as being more central.

KIMBERTON MEETING.

A meeting was opened here about 1857.

OXFORD MEETING.

In 1878 an Indulged Meeting was held at Oxford by permission of Pennsgrove and Nottingham Monthly Meetings. In 1879 a house was built and opened for use on the 9th of 11th month.

MALVERN MEETING.

This house, fifty-five by thirty-two feet in size, was built in 1879, of green or serpentine stone from the quarries of Thomas White, in East Goshen. In the following winter -Whiteland Meeting was transferred to this place, and the first meeting held in the new house on the 15th of 2d month, 1880.

PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS.

About thirty years ago a number of persons, largely of the Society of Friends, deeply impressed with the need for more active exertions in the cause of humanity and morality, began to hold meetings for the propagation of their

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS - 243

views, in which they were assisted by prominent philanthropists from other parts of our country. Slavery and intemperance were two of the great evils which they determined to combat, but nothing which affected the condition of society or individuals was thought unworthy of notice. The name of " Progressive Friends" speaks at once of their origin, and of their central idea of progress in whatever could benefit humanity. From the farm of John Cox, in East Marlborough, a piece of ground was donated by the owner, and here they erected

LONGWOOD MEETING,

where meetings were held weekly for several years. Since 1853 a Yearly Meeting has been held, at which hae gathered such well-known humanitarians as Lucretia Mott, William Lloyd Garrison, Theodore Parker, Frederick Douglas, Oliver Johnson, Charles C. Burleigh, Mary Grew, Abby Kelly Foster, and a host of others from a distance, besides a large number of our own citizens. Many of the leading questions of the day have been discussed, and " testimonies" prepared expressive of the sentiment of the meeting, to be published to the world.

In connection with the meeting a cemetery was laid out, which promises to be a spot of more than usual interest in the future.

THE SUFFERINGS OF FRIENDS.

The following paper, showing Friends' sufferings on account of their " testimony" against war, has been specially prepared by E. Michener :

History informs us that during the early centuries of our era Christians held it to be unlawful for them to fight, and that the most cruel tortures, even death itself, could in nowise induce them to do so.

It is also well known that the Religious Society of Friends from its incipiency has ever borne a like " testimony" against all wars and fightings and preparations for war ; and they, too, have endured a full share of suffering, in person and in property, for the maintenance of this " Christian testimony," more especially during the war of Revolution, and, strange as it may appear, right here in the " land of Penn," whose great and noble purpose it was to establish a government where religious liberty and the rights of conscience should be respected and secured. The pioneer settlers in a large portion of Chester County were almost entirely Friends, who had received their titles directly from the proprietary. The purpose of this paper is to give a brief notice of the sufferings of them and their immediate descendants during the Revolutionary war. In doing this, it is necessary first to consider how Friends view the practice of war, in order to properly comprehend the grounds of their " testimony" against it.

WHAT THEN IS WAR ?

War is a game of hazard, at which kings and rulers and their courtiers play, leaving we, the people, to pay the forfeits which they incur with our treasure and our lives.

Already the educational and financial resources of the nation are profusely lavished upon the gamesters to fit them for war ; already the richest emoluments, the highest honors which it can bestow, are given to the warriors ; al- ready the Western domain is made a camping-ground for the new recruits, and Indians the targets for them to practice on ; already the candidates for almost any office, civil or military, from a constable to the President, are fain to rest the claim upon their military record. Such appears to be war in the popular estimation.

But from whence come wars arid fightings ? Come they not even of your lusts,—the lust for power, the lust for conquest and plunder, the lust for fame, the lust for revenge ? Divest war of its meretricious tapestry, its emoluments, its honors, and the halo of false glory which has been thrown as a pall over its atrocities, and it soon sinks into unmitigated, cold-blooded murder. Such I understand to be the view which Friends take of war, and such the evil which they testify against.

With the progress of the war the requisitions upon Friends for aid in carrying it on increased. Under the advice and direction of the Yearly Meeting, the Western Quarterly Meeting, and the Monthly Meetings which then constituted it (seven in number), each appointed a large standing committee to attend to suffering cases. It was made the duty of those of the Monthly Meetings,—

1. To advise, encourage, and assist their members when under trial and suffering.

2. To collect and prepare accounts of suffering cases, and report them to the Monthly Meetings.

3. To visit those in anthority, to explain to them the principles held by the society, and endeavor to

convince them of their consistency with the teachings of the.Christ.

4. To meet once a month with the Quarterly Meeting's committee in a general conference for consultation and united action.

This organization was continued, with occasional new appointments, for eight years. The entire minutes of the Conference, and many of those of the constituent committees, are now before me. It affords me pleasure to be able to record the names of the Conference, taken at random, for the year 1779,—men whose memories have come down through the ages as persons of unblemished integrity and undoubted piety. These are they who have been denounced by men who " knew not Joseph" as Quaker Tories and traitors to their country, because they chose to obey God and could not violate their own consciences. They held the sacredness of human life, and the sinfulness of taking it away ; they acknowledged the brotherhood of men, and could not do violence to any by forcibly pulling down or setting up governments.

THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE.

Committee of the Western Monthly Meeting.—William Harvey, Thomas Pimm, John Ferree, Amos Davis, William Jackson, r., Robert Moore, Benjamin Mason, George Churchman, John Millhouse, Isaac Jackson, William Swayne, Samuel Sharp, Samuel England, William Cox, John Jackson, William Downing, Ellis Pusey, John Sharpless.

Committee of Kennet Monthly Meeting.—William Lamborn, James Wilson, Jonathan Cause, John Lamborn, James Bennet, Joseph Walter, r., Thomas Gibson, John Parker, Joshua Way, James Jackson, Caleb Pierce, James Bryan, Christopher Hollingsworth, William Phillips, Jr., William Walter, John Way, John Marshall, David Grave.

Committee of New Garden Monthly Meeting.—Joseph Moore, Joshua Pusey, Joseph Richardson, Daniel Thompson, William Miller, Jacob Lindley, Thomas Millhouse, David Hoopes, Thomas Wood, Thomas Woodward, Henry Chalfant, Isaac Jackson, r., Joel Bailey, Joseph Pyle, Jacob Halliday, Isaac Pyle, Francis Lamborn.

244 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Committee of Nottingham Monthly Meeting.—Abraham Bunting, Joseph England, Joseph Harlan, Timothy Kirk, William Brown, Benjamin Hongh, Elisha Brown, William Haines, William Webster, Jeremiah Brown, Richard Reynolds, Thomas Chambers.

Committee of Sadsbury Monthly Meeting.—James Moore, Isaac Taylor, James Miller, Andrew Moore, James Webb, John Cope, John Truman, Abraham Gibbons, Joseph Brinton.

Committee of Bradford Monthly Meeting.—Richard Barnard, Samuel Fisher, Thomas Baldwin, Nathan Cope, Abia Taylor, Isaac Coates, Thomas Fisher, William Mode, Samuel Cope, William Iddings, Edward Vernon.

Committee of Duck Creek Monthly Meeting (Del.).—Robert Halliday, John Barnes, Israel Ashton, Joseph Cowgill, Warner Mifflin, Henry Cowgill, Ezekiel Cowgill, Baptist Lay, William Wilson, Isaiah Roland, Fenwick Fisher, John Dickinson.

Committee of Deer Creek Monthly Meeting.—Joseph Husbands, Phillip Cole, John Wilson, William Cole, Benjamin Barnes.

Here we have one of the most remarkable, perhaps one of the most important, incidents of the war. A committee of more than a hundred stalwart members of the Society of Friends, citizens of three several States, holding public meetings once a month for eight years, encouraging and sustaining their members to withhold their aid and support of the war ; and visiting and revisiting, by committees, many of the military and civil officers, not excepting Gen. Washington himself, and memorializing the General Assembly for a redress of their wrongs. Now it is well that we should consider. Were those men of peace, those fear-. less advocates of the rights of conscience, traitors to their country ? Did the loyal authorities of that day consider them traitors ? Certainly they did not. Else why did they not disperse those traitorous meetings and punish the traitors ? Their not having done so affords an all-sufficient and conclusive vindication of Friends against the aspersions so often and so illiberally cast upon them by those least competent to judge. Indeed, the visited received their visits kindly, some of them particularly so, and most of them acknowledged that the Gospel Dispensation called for the disuse of carnal weapons.

About the period of George Fox, the arbitrary domination of kings and priests over the liberties of the people seems to have reached its ultimatum, and was suddenly brought into conflict with a power more potent than its own,—the revelation of Eternal Truth in the souls of men, enabling and requiring them to patiently endure the pains and penalties for obeying its holy requirements.

But the people do not sufficiently estimate the price which has been thus paid for the civil and religious liberties which they now enjoy. Nor can it be denied that Friends have contributed a full share of their substance, their sufferings, and their lives for the attainment of this desirable end.

If George Fox had not asserted man's primary allegiance unto God ; if he had not maintained that civil and religious liberty and the rights of conscience are paramount to all human laws ; if innocent women had not been scourged upon their naked backs, at the cart tail, through the streets of Boston ; if Laurence Southwick and his sons had not borne their cars to be cut off; if William Robinson, Marmaduke Stephenson, William Leddra, and Mary Dyer had not sealed their testimony to the truth with their blood on Boston Common ; and if William Penn had not published " The Frame of Government for Pennsylvania," it is not probable that Thomas Jefferson would have written the Declaration of American Independence. " Coming events cast their shadows before."

It may even be worthy of serious thought how far that independence was achieved by the arms of the warrior, and how far by the humble dependence on and hopeful " looking unto God" for aid and preservation by those patient and persecuted ones who could in nowise seek to obtain it by force, but whose constant, earnest prayer was, " Spare thy people, 0 Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach."

One of the reports alluded to—" Read and approved at New Garden Monthly Meeting the 4th of the 8th month, 1781, signed on behalf thereof, Joshua Pusey, Clk."—furnishes the details of distraints made from the members thereof during the preceding year, amounting to £1619 3s. 3d. From that report I have copied such distraints only as were made within the two townships of New Garden and Londongrove.

For the township of New Garden - £458 10 3

" “ Londongrove - 387 18 10

Total - £846 9 1

This list is long, but its value is proportioned to its length, and would be greatly. impaired by further curtailment. The demands were various, and sometimes made by unscrupulous persons, without any show of authority, hence distraints were often made in quick succession,

LIST OF PROPERTY DISTRAINED, ETC.

They then summarized the statement thus :

"Within one of our monthly meetings, hath been taken since the year 1777, from about one hundred and twenty families, property to the amount of £6108 19s. 11d.—rated at such prices as such articles would generally have sold for."

Making, on an average, for each family, many of whom were in straitened circumstances, an annual distraint amounting to £25 8s. 8d.

But legislative redress of wrongs is often slow to come. Not till eight years after did the Assembly establish a Board of Appeals, and then only prospective and not retrogressive.

"WHEREAS, it hath been represented that gross abuses have been committed in levying and collecting militia fines, and as such abuses may still be continued, Be it enacted, etc., That the commissioners of the several counties, or any two of them, shall have power to receive all appeals, and to give relief and grant exonerations as justice and humanity may require." (Passed March 27, 1789.)

YE OLDEN TIME COSTUME.

Eli K. Price writes :

"I much desire that the history of Chester County may carry into the future a graphic view of what have been the characteristics of that good body of Friends who inhabited it since the time of William Penn. I see them, in my mind, back to the beginning of this century. Then the oldest men were in the costume Benjamin West painted them in the likenesses of his parents and others, and in his picture of the treaty with the Indians under the elm at Shackamaxon, and as William Penn stands in front of the Pennsylvania Hospital, but as taller men, for William Penn evidently derived his figure to a considerable extent from his Dutch mother. The dress was a body coat of ample material, with standing collar, cut single-breasted, with one row of buttons covered with the same cloth, one row of button holes, the front of the coat being slightly curved, and the whole falling to the knees; with waistcoat in proportion, with pockets parting below where the buttoning ceased, and so deep as partly to cover the lap, the openings covered by a flap, all of drab color; then came the small clothes, buckled at the knees; and often they wore buckled shoes, but on going out on horseback the high fair-top boots were essential. The person was covered with a genuine broadbrim, not rolled up nor standing out horizontally, but inclined npward on three sides at an angle of forty-five degrees, and in a few instances in the city looped up higher. But by the end of the first quarter of this century signs of the leveling tendency of republieanism had set in; the colors of the cloth became darker, and the dignity of the small clothes and fair-top boots were sunk in the trowsers. And what a let down was that! But the diminuant process has continued. The brim is now narrower, the crown of the hat higher; the coat is cut from a smaller pattern, is fitted closer to the body, is more trim, but looks not so venerable."

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

The province of Pennsylvania was early attractive to emigrants from other countries. It was recommended by its free government, by the character of its fundamental laws, its fertile soil, salubrious and temperate climate, its adaptation to a rural population, with advantages for trade, commerce, and manufactures.

These emigrants were from various parts of Europe. They were not homogeneous, but were diversified by their origin, religious principles, habits, and language. This

246 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

diversity, arising from their different nationalities, divided them into three distinctly marked classes, whose separation was maintained unbroken for many generations, and is not yet effaced.

It is, a singular fact that the white races in Pennsylvania are remarkably unmixed, and retain their original character beyond that of any State in the Union. These distinctly marked races are the English, the German, and the Scotch and Scotch-Irish. Emigrants from other countries contributed to swell the population. Among the choicest of the early settlers were the Swedes, the Welsh, the Huguenots, the Hollanders, and the Swiss ; but their numbers were small compared with those of the races just mentioned, and their peculiar characteristics, through admixture with the people of other nationalities and the mellowing influence of time, are scarcely recognizable.

The associates and followers of Penn, known as Friends, who were mainly of English descent, were among the first emigrants, and settled chiefly in Philadelphia and the country near it, embracing what is now Delaware County, the eastern and central portions of Chester County, and the southern parts of Bucks and Montgomery Counties. They were an orderly, industrious, and law-abiding people, cultivating peace with all men.

The Germans, who came in large numbers, were of different denominations of Christians, principally Lutheran and German Reformed, with some Mennonites, Dunkers, Moravians, Amish, and others. They were orderly, industrious, and frugal farmers, peaceful and honest in their relations and dealings,—a people that emphatically minded their own business, and made continual accessions to their wealth.

The third race were the Scotch and Scotch-Irish, who constituted a considerable portion of the early settlers of Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia.

Chester County was settled by these three distinctly-marked races, and their peculiarities are seen in their descendants at the present day, and are readily recognizable by those familiar with them.̊ The American people have become so used to the admixture of foreign elements as not readily to notice peculiarities that are not conspicuous, but the student of character can trace them still.

A fourth race, the Welsh, settled some portions of the eastern and northern sections of the county, giving Welsh names to several townships ; but their descendants are not so distinctly marked, although their surnames are yet very common in the townships settled by them. The people of this blood were among the best who established themselves in the county, and for intelligence and enterprise were not excelled by any.

The Scotch-Irish were largely the ancestors of the Presbyterians of the present day, and before proceeding to give a history of the churches of that denomination a brief account will be given of the race and its peculiarities. And this is the more appropriate as, beyond the fact that they came from the north of Ireland, there is much ignorance with regard to their history, which is yet one full of interest.

During the Irish rebellions in the reign of Elizabeth, the province of Ulster, embracing the northern counties of Ireland, was reduced to the lowest extremity of poverty and wretchedness, and its moral and religious state was scarcely less deplorable than its civil. Soon after the accession of James I., his quarrels with the Roman Catholics of that province led to a conspiracy against the British authority. O'Neill and O,Donnell, two Irish lords, who had been created earls by the English government,—the former the Earl of Tyrone, and the latter the Earl of Tyrconnel,—arranged a plot against the government. Its detection led these chief conspirators to fly the country, leaving their extensive estates—about 500,000 acres—at the mercy of the king, who only wanted a pretext for taking possession. A second insurrection soon gave occasion for another large forfeiture, and nearly six entire counties in the province of Ulster were confiscated and subjected to the disposal of the crown. But it was a territory which showed the effects of a long series of lawless disturbances. It was almost depopulated, its resources wasted, and the cultivation of the soil, in a great measure, abandoned. The state of society—such as existed—was in keeping with the physical aspect of the country.

It became the favorite project with the king to repeople those counties with a Protestant population, who would be disposed to the arts of peace and industry, the better to preserve order, to establish more firmly the British rule, and to introduce a higher state of cultivation into that portion of his domains. To promote this object liberal offers of land were made, and other inducements held out in England and Scotland for colonists to occupy this wide and vacant territory. This was about the year 1610. The project was eagerly embraced, companies and colonies were formed, and individuals without organization were tempted to partake of the advantageous offers of the government. A London company—among the first to enter upon this new acquisition—established itself at Derry, and gave such character to the place as to cause it to be known and called the city of Londonderry.

The principal emigration, however, was from Scotland. Its coast is within twenty miles of the county of Antrim, in Ireland, and across this strait flowed from the northeast a large population distinguished for thrift, industry, and endurance, and bringing with them their Presbyterianism and rigid adherence to the Westminster standards. They settled principally in the counties of Down, Londonderry, and Antrim, and have given a peculiar and elevated character to that portion of the Emerald Isle.

This was the first Protestant population that was introduced into Ireland, and the Presbyterians of Scotland, who thus furnished the largest element, have maintained their ascendency to the present day against the persevering efforts of the government church on the one hand and the Romanists, by whom they were surrounded, on the other. The first Presbyterian Church established in Ireland was in the county of Antrim in 1613.

The province, in consequence of this influx of population, greatly revived, and continued for some years to advance in prosperity. The towns were replenished with inhabitants, the lands were cleared, and houses erected throughout the country.

But it was a day in which the throne of Britain was governed by bigotry and despotism. Persecutions of an

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oppressive nature began in Ulster in 1661, and every expedient short of utter extirpation was tried to break down the attachment of the people to their Presbyterian polity ; but, as is always the case, these persecutions only attached the people the stronger to their faith. Many ministers were deposed and forced to return to Scotland.

The tide, however, presently changed. Persecutions ceased in Ireland, and the scene was transferred to Scotland. The latter Stuarts, Charles II. and James II., blind to the dictates of justice and humanity, pursued a system of measures best calculated to wean from their support their Presbyterian subjects, who were bound by national prejudice and had been most devoted to their kingly cause, and to whose assistance Charles II. owed his restoration to the throne. Sir James Grahame, better known as Claverhouse, was sent to Scotland with his dragoons upon the mistaken mission of compelling the Presbyterians to conform in their religious worship to that of the establishment, and from 1670 until the accession of William and Mary, the Presbyterians of Scotland worshiped in hidden places, and at the peril of their lives.

Worn out with the unequal contest, these persistent and enduring Presbyterians, having suffered to the extreme of cruelty and oppression, abandoned the land of their birth and sought an asylum among their countrymen who had preceded them in the secure retreats of Ulster ; and thither they escaped as best they could, some crossing the narrow sea in open boats. They carried their household gods with them, and their religious peculiarities became more dear in their land of exile for the dangers and sorrows through which they had borne them.

This is the race—composed of various tribes, flowing from different parts of Scotland—which furnished the population in the north of Ireland familiarly known as the Scotch-Irish. This term, Scotch-Irish, does not denote an admixture of the Scotch and Irish races. The , one did not intermarry with the other. The Scotch were principally Saxon in blood and Presbyterian in religion ; the native Irish, Celtic in blood and Roman Catholic in religion ; and these were elements which could not very readily coalesce. Hence the races are as distinct in Ireland at the present day, after the lapse of two centuries and a half, as when the Scotch first took up their abode in that island. They were called Scotch-Irish simply from the circumstance that they were the descendants of Scots who had taken up their residence in the north of Ireland. In language, habits, tastes, education, history, religion, capacity, manner of life, and general appearance they have always been distinct from the Irish, and so distinct that a stranger traveling in Ireland can pick out the Scotch communities with his eye.

It may be observed that the term "Scotch-Irish," although expressive, is purely American. In Ireland it is not used. There, in contradistinction to the native or Celtic Irish, they are called Scotch.

These people, by their industry, frugality, and skill, made the region into which they thus moved comparatively a rich and flourishing country. They improved ag- riculture and introduced manufactures, and by the excellence and high reputation of their productions, attracted trade and commerce to their markets.

The government, however, soon began to recognize them in the shape of taxes and embarrassing regulations upon their industry and trade. These restrictions, together with an extravagant advance in rents by landlords whose long leases had now expired, occasioned much distress, and the people were brought to a state of degrading subjection to England, and many of them reduced to comparative poverty.

Their patience was at length exhausted, and these energetic and self-willed Scotch-Irish, animated by the same spirit which subsequently moved the American mind in the days of the Revolution, determined no longer to endure these oppressive measures, and they sought by another change of residence to find a freer field for the exercise of their industry and skill, and for the enjoyment of their religion.

Ireland was not the home of their ancestors, it was endeared to them by no traditions, and numbers of them determined to quit it and seek in the American wilds a better` home than they had in the old world.

Accordingly, about the beginning of the eighteenth century they commenced to emigrate to the American colonies in large numbers. The spirit of emigration, fostered no doubt by the glowing accounts sent home by their countrymen who had preceded them, seized these people to such an extent that it threatened almost a total depopulation. Such multitudes of husband men ,laborers, and manufacturers flocked over the Atlantic that the landlords began to be alarmed, and to concert ways and means for preventing the growing evil. Scarce a ship sailed for the colonies that was not crowded with men, women, and children. They came for a time principally to Pennsylvania, although some of them settled in New England, and others found their way to the Carolinas. It is stated by Proud, in his " History of Pennsylvania," that by the year 1729, 6000 Scotch-Irish had come to that colony, and that before the middle of the century nearly 12,000 arrived annually for several years. In September, 1736, alone, 1000 families sailed from Belfast on account of the difficulty of renewing their leases.

They were Protestants, and generally Presbyterians ; few or none of the Catholic Irish came until after the Revolution. The settlement of this latter class in this country is comparatively of modern date.

The " Friends" of Pennsylvania extended a cordial welcome to the adherents of other doctrines than their own, and so it came to pass that these immigrants turned their steps toward the settlements upon the Delaware.

Extensive emigrations from the northern counties of Ireland were principally made at two distinct periods of time : the first, of which I have been speaking, from about the year 1718 to the middle of the century ; the second, from about 1771 to 1773, although there was a gentle current westward between these two eras.

The cause of this second extensive emigration was somewhat similar to that of the first. It is well known that a greater portion of the lands in Ireland are owned by a comparatively small number of proprietors, who rent them to the farming classes on long leases. In 1771 the leases on an estate in the county of Antrim, the property of the Marquis of Donegal, having expired, the rents were so

248 – HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA;

largely advanced that many of the tenants could not comply with the demands, and were deprived of the farms they had occupied. This aroused a spirit of resentment to the oppression of the large landed proprietors, and an immediate and extensive emigration to America was the consequence. From 1771 to 1773 there sailed from the ports in the north of Ireland nearly 100 vessels, carrying as many as 25,000 passengers, all Presbyterians. This was shortly before the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, and these people, leaving the Old World in such a temper, became a powerful contribution to the cause of liberty and to the separation of the colonies from the mother-country.

These Scotch-Irish emigrants landed principally at New Castle and Philadelphia, and found their way northward and westward into the eastern and middle counties of Pennsylvania. From thence one stream followed the great Cumberland Valley into Virginia and North Carolina, and from these colonies passed into Kentucky and Tennessee. Another powerful body went into Western Pennsylvania, and settling on the head-waters of the Ohio, became famous both in civil and ecclesiastical history, and have given to the region around Pittsburgh the name it so well deserves of being the backbone of Presbyterianism.

The first settlement of the Scotch-Irish within the present bounds of Chester County was made about the year 1718. They gradually spread over the whole western portion of the county, from Maryland and Delaware on the south to the chain of hills known as the Welsh Mountain on the north ; and the greater portion of the population of this district of country at the present day are their descendants. These early emigrants planted the Presbyterian Churches at Upper Octorara, Fagg's Manor, Brandywine Manor, New London, and Oxford, in this county ; and these churches abide in strength to the present day.

This race, in energy, enterprise, intelligence, education, patriotism, religious and moral character, the maintenance of civil and religious liberty, and inflexible resistance to all usurpation in church and State, were not surpassed by any class of settlers in the American colonies. They were a thinking people, strong-minded and capable. The humblest of them could take up the great themes of government and of religion and could talk intelligently about them.

In the struggle for popular rights they were ever found on the side of the people, and the maintenance of freedom in religious worship was with them a cardinal principle.

Pennsylvania owes much of what she is to-day to the fact that so many of these people settled within her borders. Probably not less than five millions of people in America have the blood of these Scotch and Scotch-Irish in their veins, and there is not one of them, man or woman, that is not proud of it, or that would exchange it for any other lineage.

" The first public voice in America for dissolving all connection with Great Britain," says Bancroft, " came from the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians." A large number of them were signers of the Declaration of Independence, and throughout the Revolution they were devoted to the cause of the country. Such a thing as a Scotch-Irish Tory was unheard of; the race never produced one. It was the energy and devotion of this people that sustained the army in the field in the many dark hours of that contest, and which, under the guidance of Providence, carried this country successfully through the struggle for freedom.

When the subject of the dissolution of all connection between the colonies and the mother-country was before the Continental Congress, it was John Witherspoon, a Scotch Presbyterian clergyman, and a descendant of John Knox, who is reported to have said,---

" That noble instrument on your table, which secures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this very morning by every pen in this house. He who will not respond to its accents, and strain every nerve to carry into effect its provisions, is unworthy the name of a freeman. Although these gray hairs must descend into the sepulchre, I would infinitely rather they would descend thither by the hand of the public executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred cause of my conntry !"

Words which were potent in securing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Many of the most eminent men in the nation are and have been of this race. It has furnished five Presidents of the United States, eight Governors of Pennsylvania, a majority of the judges of this State, and a full proportion of the legislators, State and National, and of those who have occupied other high official positions. And in the church, those of her blood may well be proud of the names of those who have ministered at her altars and taught in the colleges and seminaries of the land.

The race is also noted for its firmness, perseverance, and undaunted energy in whatever it undertakes, and those characteristics have aided in carrying it successively through many a conflict.

Its character for firmness—perhaps it might' be called stubbornness—is somewhat facetiously but well illustrated in the prayer of the Scotch elder, who besought the Lord that he might be always right, adding, " For thou knowest, Lord, that I am very hard to turn ;" or, as expressed in the Scottish dialect, " Ye ken, Lord, that I am unco hard to turn." This trait has held its own for centuries. They were a people who wanted light on every subject, and informed themselves and made up their minds, and after that it was commonly about as easy to move the hills as to stir one of them out of his opinions. They meant to be right, and they meant to stick to it. Their tenacity of purpose was remarkable. They came to their conclusions logically and fairly, and had a mortal hatred of giving up.

Another characteristic of this people was their strong individuality. They had opinions and convictions of their own, and they had a way of holding them which was their own. They took nothing second-hand. They were decided, earnest, high-spirited, independent, and set in their way, and not ashamed to declare just what they believed and meant to do. They never kept. any man in the dark as to their political or religious convictions. The Scotch-Irishman must choose for himself. He never follows a leader blindly, and in this respect differs widely from his Celtic brother of the same soil. His individual rights must be observed. In a regiment of a thousand such men there will be just one thousand men thinking, knowing, and judging for themselves, and about as independent a body as human history presents.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES - 249

Another marked trait in their character was their facetiousness. Probably no people were so prone to look on the humorous side of things, and this trait is possessed in a large degree by their descendants.

GREAT VALLEY AND CHARLESTOWN.

The oldest Presbyterian Church in Chester County is the " Great Valley," in Tredyffrin township, where there was a congregation as early as 1710, but which was not regularly organized until 1714. That township having been settled by the Welsh, this congregation was in its earlier days largely Welsh in its composition, although there was from the commencement a commingling of Scotch-Irish and English with them.

It was first ministered to by Rev. Malachi Jones, who preached to them until 1720, when the Rev. David Evans, who had previously to the advent of Mr. Jones occasionally ministered to them, became their pastor. In that year (1720) a church building was erected which stood for over seventy years. Mr. Evans was pastor about twenty years, when, owing to troubles in the congregation, he resigned. His education and attainments were of a high grade, but he was an eccentric and high-spirited man, excitable, and very vacillating in his course.

There is a tradition in the neighborhood that before leaving, and stung by what had occurred, he announced he would preach his farewell sermon. This drew a crowd, expecting something sharp and spicy, and they were not disappointed. In brevity the sermon took the palm from Dean Swift,s celebrated charity sermon. It was this : " Goats I found you, and goats I leave you." The acerbity which so uttered itself, however, soon passed away, for in two years he again addressed the " goats" as a church of Christians.

The next pastor was Rev. John Rowland, who it seems was somewhat irregularly installed, owing to the division which then existed in the Presbyterian Church at large into what were known as " Old Side" and " New Side." There was a strong opposition to Mr. Rowland, which in 1741 culminated in his being debarred from preaching in the church by the " Old Side," who were in the majority in the congregation. After his expulsion he preached for a time to his adherents in barns and other places, until they erected a church building for him in what is now Charlestown village, the foundation of which was laid in 1743, on land that was given by Job Harvey, a Friend. That was the origin of the Charlestown Presbyterian Church. The principal men concerned in the organization of this church were David Humphries, David John, Griffith Jones, Lewis Martin, and Anthony Pritchard.

The next pastor of Great Valley was Rev. Samuel Evans, a son of their former pastor, Rev. David Evans, who had left them so cavalierly. He was installed in 1742, and served until 1747, and is spoken of as a man of decided ability. After this the church was for several years without a regular pastor, and dependent upon supplies. In 1753, Rev. John Kinkead appears to have been installed and to have remained for a time.

In 1761, Rev. John Simonton was settled, and continued as pastor until his death in 1791. He is said to

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have been a sound and judicious minister, but, being constitutionally inclined to ease, he was neither animated in the pulpit nor diligent in the discharge of parochial duty. The leading members in 1761 were :

Isaac Davies, Thomas McKean, Enoch Abraham, John Griffith, Daniel Beaton, John Thompson, James Davies, David Davie s, William Hudson, John Christy, Daniel John, Isaac Abraham, Llewellyn Davies, Thomas Waters, Thomas Harris, Hugh Reed, William Bell, John Shaw, Hugh Frazer, Thomas Wilson, Robert Stevens, Erasmus Lloyd, Jonathan Davies, and Joseph Davies.

The church was incorporated in 1788, the names of the corporators being John Davies, John Christy, John Griffiths, John Templeton, David Wilson, David Cloyd, John Maxwell, Robert Todd, Thomas Harris, Matthew Neely, James Davies, and Thomas R. Kennedy. During the ministry of Mr. Simonton there were some differences 11 the congregation growing out of the fact that members of Scotch- Irish blood had become numerous, and in the disputations which arose with the old Welsh settlers there was not always an agreement of sentiment.

Mr. Rowland, who, as has been seen, was instrumental in the erection of the Charlestown Church in 1743, died in 1747. He was succeeded at Charlestown by the Rev. John Campbell, who died in 1753. After his death the congregation was dependent for a -series of years upon supplies, some of whom served them for a number of years, and among whom were Rev. John Griffith, a Welshman, Rev. Benjamin Chestnut, an Englishman, and Rev. John Carmichael, afterwards of Brandywine Manor Church: In 1774, Rev. Daniel McCalla was installed, and continued until the breaking out of the Revolution, when he left and became a chaplain in the army.

In 1791 the two churches of Great Valley and Charlestown, after half a century,s separation, united upon Rev. John Gemmill as their pastor. In 1793 the Great Valley congregation erected a new house of worship, which is still in use. It has at different times been enlarged and improved. Mr. Gemmill was pastor until 1798. He was a man of power, and of great popularity, and had a reputation for eloquence which has survived him.

April 17, 1799, Rev. William Latta became pastor of these united churches, and so continued until his death, Feb. 19, 1847, a period of' nearly forty-eight years. He was a fine scholar, an earnest, effective, and instructive preacher, and a public-spirited citizen. He was succeeded by Rev. William R. Bingham, who was pastor from Feb. 28, 1848, until Jan. 3, 1859. The succeeding pastors have been Rev. Robert M. Patterson, installed Aug. 25, 1859 Rev. Edward P. Heberton, from April 13, 1868, to Oct. 4, 1871, and Rev. Samuel Fulton, who was installed Oct. 18, 1872.

The Charlestown Church separated from the Great Valley on the resignation of Mr. Bingham, and in 1859 united under one pastorate with the church in Phoenixville. It was subsequently united with East Whiteland during the pastorate of Rev. John C. Clyde, and is now again connected with Phoenixville.

In 1864 the congregation of Great Valley celebrated . their one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, on which occasion Rev. Robert M. Patterson read a history of the church.